No Compromise.

The government must not bend, the government must not relent. Every gang believes there is safety in numbers; every violent mob huddles up to become a stronger foe than the sum of its parts. But individually, separated from the pack each individual is just a powerless petty criminal. The same sense of impunity and hubris that led the lawyers to attack the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) is now being marshaled to put pressure on the government. The same power politics of Bar Councils that whipped crowds of black garbed goons onto the streets are now being used to mount a nationwide strike in an attempt to close ranks around the instigators.

The government must not be pressurized, the government must not compromise. For too long political lawyers have levied their numbers to win concessions and escape justice. It is time that the government takes a strong stand and proves to the people that the law is the same for the rich and the poor, the few and the many.

Pakistan's legal fraternity is oversaturated with lawyers; too many graduates from unaccredited universities, too few cases to go around. In situations like these falling behind powerful Bar Council members is the only recourse. This 'ganging-up' is not a problem in one-off incidents like the PIC attack - every day bands of lawyers intimidate...

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