Former Supreme Court Bar Association president Latif Afridi has died after he was shot six times at the Peshawar High Court (PHC). He was moved to the Peshawar Lady Reading Hospital immediately after the incident where he succumbed to his injuries from the six bullets during medical treatment. The gunman is in police custody.
Latif Afridi was sitting with other lawyers in the PHC bar room when the gunman, identified as Adnan Afridi, barged into the room and opened fire at him. The police are investigating how the gunman was able to enter the premises of PHC which has strict security deployed at the entrance and people are only allowed to enter upon showing their identity cards. The police officials said they are looking into the security arrangements and action will be taken if any lapse was found.
Abdul Latif Afridi, a progressive political leader, died after being shot inside Peshawar High Court #RIP pic.twitter.com/9WbxRTKM78
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) January 16, 2023
Read more: JIT to call Faisal Vawda, Ali Zaidi for investigation into Arshad Sharif murder case
According to the police, Latif Afridi was killed by Adnan Afridi over personal enmity. The attacker’s father — also a senior lawyer — was killed in a firing incident some years back. Latif Afridi and his family members were nominated in the case but were later released on bail. Pertinent to mention that a few weeks ago, Latif Afridi was acquitted in a murder case by Swat Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Aftab Afridi and his three family members.
Condolences pour in over killing of Latif Afridi
Pakistan’s lawyer community, along with political leaders have condemned the assassination of Latif Afridi, calling it a great loss for the country.
Former SBCA president Ahsan Bhoon expressed shock at the murder of the senior lawyer and said Latif Afridi had always raised his voice for people deprived of rights. The ex-SCBA president said Afridi was a strong advocate of democracy.
Read more: Wazirabad attack: PTI leaders question media coverage of suspect Naveed’s lawyer
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his condolence message, expressed deep sorrow and grief over the jurist’s murder in Peshawar.
“I pray that the bereaved family bears this loss with fortitude. The worsening law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is alarming,” the premier noted, adding that the provincial government should take immediate measures in this regard.
نامور قانون دان اورسابق صدر سپریم کورٹ بار عبدالطیف آفریدی کےپشاور میں بیہمانہ قتل پر دلی دکھ اور رنج ہوا۔ انکی بلندیِ درجات اور لواحقین کیلئے صبرِ جمیل کی دعا ہے۔خیبر پختونخوا میں بگڑتی ہوئی امن و امان کی صورتحال تشویشناک ہے،صوبائی حکومت اس کی بہتری کیلئے فی الفور اقدامات اٹھائے
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 16, 2023
Former president Asif Ali Zardari condemned the murder of Afridi and said he was a strong supporter of democracy and a staunch opponent of extremism.
“The killing of martyr Abdul Latif Afridi is very unfortunate,” the PPP leader said in a tweet.
سابق صدر آصف علی زرداری کی عبدالطیف آفریدی کے قتل کی مذمت
عبدالطیف آفریدی جمہوریت پسند اور شدت پسندی کے سخت مخالف تھے، آصف زرداری
شہید عبدالطیف آفریدی کا قتل انتہائی افسوسناک ہے ،آصف زرداری @AAliZardari
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) January 16, 2023