PESHAWAR: The second death anniversary of senior lawyer and former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Abdul Latif Afridi was observed at the Peshawar High Court here on Friday.

The event was jointly arranged by the Abdul Latif Afridi Shaheed Foundation and Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) on the high court’s lawns.

The speakers, including PHC senior puisne judge Justice Ijaz Anwar, former governor Barrister Masud Kausar, Awami National Party leader Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and SCBA president Mian Mohammad Atta, paid homage to Mr Afridi for striving for the supremacy of the Constitution and fighting state oppression.

Senior puisne judge Ijaz Anwar said that Mr Afridi’s legal career spanned over five decades and he served as the president of the SCBA as well as the PHCBA several times.

Lawyers, judges mark death anniversary of ex-SCBA president Latif Afridi

He said that Mr Afridi had played a crucial role in the Lawyers Movement of 2007 and was injured during the movement. He said that the late lawyer’s services for the merged areas would also be remembered.

He said that Mr Afridi was at the forefront of the struggle against the Frontier Crimes Regulations and played an active part in politics.

Justice Anwar said that Mr Afridi also remained a member of the National Assembly during his political career.

SCBA president Mian Mohammad Atta also paid homage to Mr Afridi in his speech. He said that lawyers have also struggled for the supremacy of the Constitution.

He said that Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who gave the country its 1973 Constitution was a lawyer.

Mr Atta said that lawyers had always stood up against dictators and supported journalists against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.

Senior ANP leader Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said that Mr Afridi was a courageous and bold lawyer and politician, who always regarded him as his younger brother.

Mr Bilour said that he was unhappy over the conviction of PTI founder Imran Khan as politicians were the weakest section of Pakistani polity. He said that Pakistan has so far faced three martial laws, while there was none in India.

“There is no space for politicians in Pakistan,” he said.

Mr Bilour said that he was unhappy for PTI founder Imran Khan, who would spend years behind bars like other politicians.

He said that India and China had sailed way ahead of Pakistan.

The ANP leader urged stakeholders to sit together to find ways to restore peace in the country.

Former governor Barrister Masud Kasur said Mr Afridi, throughout his life, struggled against oppression and coercion and stood firm like a rock on whatever he thought was right and that they both spent several years behind bars.

Senior lawyer Qazi Mohammad Anwar also said Mr Afridi was a well-read person and would always always be remembered by the poor, labourers and farmers.

Former provincial police chief Syed Akhtar Ali Shah said Mr Afridi, throughout his life, struggled for the supremacy of the Constitution and against state oppression.

He said that he also remained very active during the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy. He said that Mr Afridi’s services would always be remembered.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2025