RSSKARACHI, Pakistan (UCAN) — Lawyers, who have closed ranks round one of their colleagues charged with torturing and murdering a Catholic girl, are acting in a shameful and immoral way, Church leaders say.
Naeem Chaudhry, the former president of the Lahore high court bar association, has been charged with the murder of his maid Shazia Shaheen, 12, whose body showed signs of torture and sexual abuse.
Lawyers invaded the court where he appeared and are said to have intimidated the victim’s family.
“We are disappointed at the shameful acts of the lawyers who are supposed to lead the people toward the rule of law,” Auxiliary Bishop Sebastian Shah of Lahore said.
“The lawyers’ attitude indicates moral decay in society. They are expected to fight for justice … Such violent actions are against the constitution,” he told UCA News.
The dead girl’s father Bashir Masih, a Catholic, is under police protection after some Muslim lawyers threatened his family, demanding that they withdraw their complaints.
More than 300 lawyers invaded the Lahore Session Courts when Chaudhry appeared, forcing the victim’s family off the court premises.
“The whole Church is sad and in mourning at witnessing the declining moral values in our society,” Karachi Vicar General Father Arthur Charles told the media yesterday [Feb. 3].
“Innocents and minors are no longer safe and there is no one to question” people like Naeem, he said. “Shazia was poor and non-Muslim. This was her crime.”
Father Charles was joined by six priests and Caritas officials as he read out a statement at the press club of Karachi.
Shazia had been working as a maid at Chaudhry’s home for the past eight months. Her body was found in a government hospital of Lahore recently. Her funeral was held on Jan. 25 at the city’s Sacred Heart Cathedral.
“We appeal to the president, prime minister and chief justice of Pakistan to take strict action against the accused, cancel the [legal practicing] license of Naeem, order an impartial judicial investigation and make laws to prevent such incidents in future,” Father Charles said.
Meanwhile banners demanding justice for “Shazia, the daughter of Pakistan,” have been hung in front of the Punjab assembly building in Lahore.
Provincial legislators have condemned the legal community “for taking the law into their hands” while the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has urged lawyers to adopt “a fair attitude.”
Renowned film stars have also pledged moral and financial support for the bereaved family.
In Lahore archdiocese, Auxiliary Bishop Shah and Vicar General Father Andrew Nisari joined more than 1,000 protesters demanding punishment for Chaudhry and others named in the case.
PA08716.1587 February 4, 2010 45 EM-lines (435 words)
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