A video confession allegedly recorded by Imran Afridi, the accused in the murder of senior lawyer Khawaja Shams-ul-Islam, has gone viral on social media. In the video, Afridi claims responsibility for the killing and states he acted in revenge for his father’s death.
Khawaja Shams-ul-Islam shot dead in Karachi on August 1 inside a mosque at Quran Academy, Defence Phase 6, shortly after attending funeral prayers with his son, Khawaja Daniyal. Both of them hit by a single bullet; Shams-ul-Islam died during treatment while his son remains hospitalised but stable.
Two 9mm shell casings recovered from the scene. The attacker, Imran Afridi, escaped the scene after the shooting. There is a video of a masked man in a blue shalwar kameez entering a mosque and shooting Khwaja Shams ul Islam during prayers.
In the video, Afridi accuses Shams-ul-Islam of the 2021 murder of his father, former head constable of the police Nabi Gul. Afridi claims that he was unable to receive justice even after resorting to law, because the only way a person could achieve justice in the Pakistani legal system was through the power of the law at the time.
Lawyers Strike in Karachi
In response, the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) issued a statement that said all proceedings in courts across Karachi must be boycotted on August 2. All the civil, special, and criminal courts are on strike.
The Sindh High Court Bar Association also condemned the killing and backed the KBA’s protest. In an official statement, the KBA called the killing a blow to the legal fraternity and demanded immediate arrest of the suspect and stronger security for legal professionals.
All courts regulated by KBA and SHCBA remained closed on Saturday. Lawyers pledged to continue their protest until Imran Afridi’s arrest.
The Karachi Bar Association has scheduled a peaceful demonstration at 4 pm today in front of the Karachi Press Club. Lawyers plan to resume normal court operations on Sunday, depending on whether authorities arrest the accused.