A District and Sessions Judge and his security guard were martyred, while an Additional Sessions Judge and another individual sustained serious injuries after unidentified armed assailants opened fire on their vehicle on the National Highway near Mastung on Thursday, prompting strong condemnation from the Government of Balochistan and the legal fraternity.
According to Deputy Commissioner Mastung, Behram Saleem, District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar was travelling from Quetta to Mastung when unidentified assailants targeted his official vehicle on the National Highway.
As a result of the attack, Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and his security guard embraced martyrdom at the scene, while Additional Sessions Judge Tariq Lashari and another individual suffered critical injuries.
The bodies of the martyrs and the injured were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital, where the injured are receiving medical treatment. Following the incident, security forces and law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and launched a comprehensive search operation to trace and apprehend those responsible. Checkpoints were established at various locations, and a coordinated security response was initiated to prevent the attackers from escaping.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the attack, describing the assassination of the Sessions Judge as a direct assault on the authority of the state and the justice system. “The attack on Session Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar is, in reality, an attack on the State,” the Chief Minister stated.
He reaffirmed the government’s unwavering resolve to eliminate terrorism, declaring that those responsible, along with their facilitators, would be brought to justice without exception.
“The blood of those who uphold the law will not be allowed to go in vain. Anyone challenging the writ of the State will be dealt with decisively, and no safe haven for terrorists will remain anywhere in Balochistan,” he said.
The Chief Minister further directed security agencies to intensify ongoing operations against terrorist networks and ensure that every element involved in acts of terrorism is dismantled. Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information and Political Affairs Shahid Rind also strongly condemned the attack, describing the martyrdom of the Sessions Judge and his security guard as a tragic loss for the province.
He stated that targeting members of the judiciary represents a failed attempt to undermine the authority of the State and weaken the rule of law.
Rind added that attacks on judges and members of the legal fraternity form part of a broader conspiracy aimed at destabilizing public institutions, assuring that those responsible and their facilitators would not escape accountability. He further confirmed that instructions had been issued to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured, while expressing the provincial government’s solidarity with the bereaved families. Provincial Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove also condemned the attack and expressed profound grief over the martyrdom of the Sessions Judge and his security guard.
He directed the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner concerned to submit an immediate report on the incident and instructed law enforcement agencies to ensure the swift arrest of those involved. The Interior Minister emphasized that attacks against guardians of the law constitute a failed attempt to challenge the writ of the State and reiterated that protecting the lives and property of citizens remains the government’s foremost responsibility.
In response to the attack, the Balochistan Bar Council described the incident as an attack on the judiciary, the legal profession, and the rule of law. The Bar Council announced a two-day boycott of court proceedings and three days of mourning to express solidarity with the families of the martyrs and to protest the attack. Lawyers across the province will wear black armbands while appearing before courts as a symbol of mourning and unity.
The Bar Council also demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and called upon the authorities to strengthen security arrangements for judges, lawyers, and court staff across Balochistan. It reaffirmed the legal community’s collective commitment to standing united against terrorism and safeguarding the rule of law.
