1 Mar 2011

Protests over disappearance of Pakistani judges

3:55 pm on 1 March 2011

Hundreds of lawyers in the Pakistani province of Balochistan have demonstrated against the recent disappearance of two judges.

The men went missing during the weekend as they were travelling to a wedding in the east of the province. Their car was found abandoned on Sunday morning local time.

Last week two lawyers from the regional capital disappeared in the area. Two others have been missing for months.

Lawyers say all the men were kidnapped. It is not known who is responsible but kidnaps for ransom have been rising.

Courts brought to standstill

The main march was held in Balochistan's provincial capital, Quetta. Before the demonstrations began, lawyers locked the main courtrooms in the city, bringing court activities to a standstill, before streaming out into the streets.

Wearing black armbands, they demanded the government immediately move to rescue the judges.

They blamed "terrorist groups" for the abductions, arguing that targeting the judiciary only makes the province more vulnerable.