On most mornings, Malik Israr Ahmed could be found pacing the narrow halls of the Attock District Courts, legal file in hand, blazer a touch weathered by time. He wasn’t loud, nor theatrically persuasive. But when he spoke, judges listened — not because he commanded fear, but because he had earned their respect.
Malik Israr wasn’t just a senior advocate; he was a builder of the legal community in Attock. His approach to leadership was methodical: upgrade the bar office, fight for fair court rosters, defend junior lawyers when they were treated unjustly, and never miss a quorum at the District Bar Association. He was elected President of the bar several times — not because he courted votes, but because he kept showing up when others didn’t.
The Day Everything Changed
But on what should have been just another working day at the Attock court complex, tragedy struck. Malik Israr and his lawyer colleague, Zulfiqar Mirza, were fatally shot by a serving Elite Force personnel, Intizar Shah. The attacker, it later emerged, was driven by a personal vendetta — he had targeted Malik Israr for representing his ex-wife in a divorce case. That such personal rage could explode within a space meant for justice is not only shocking — it is a reminder of how deeply vulnerable our institutions remain.
The aftermath was immediate and painful. Legal communities across Punjab observed days of mourning. Courts fell silent. Protests rippled through the province as colleagues and citizens alike tried to grapple with what had been lost — not just a man, but a symbol of what the law should stand for.
Legal System on Trial
The killing wasn’t just an attack on two lawyers. It exposed glaring gaps in how security officers are vetted and deployed in courtrooms. Why was an emotionally unstable man, with access to firearms, stationed in a civilian legal setting? And what protections exist — if any — for lawyers who take on sensitive family cases, where emotions often run high?
While the Punjab government reacted swiftly — with visits from the Law Minister and the Governor — the unease lingered. The legal community wanted more than condolences. It wanted safety. And accountability.
Justice Delivered, But Not Healed
In January 2025, the Anti-Terrorism Court handed down three death sentences to culprit. While the ruling was quick by local standards, it offered little relief to the families or the legal peers left behind. Justice, in this case, felt procedural — not redemptive.
Legacy in Motion
On June 14, 2025, the District Bar Association Attock, convened a full-house session to mark his first death anniversary. The solemn session was jointly chaired by Senior Advocate Supreme Court Mr. Sheikh Ahsan Ud Din, President District Bar Mr. Abdullah Sami Ullah, and General Secretary Mr. Umar Saleem, whose unified presence underscored the weight and unity of the legal community in remembrance. At this commemorative gathering, a resolution was presented — and passed unanimously — declaring that the District Bar Association will observe an annual memorial for its martyrs, dedicating the day to their service and legacy. But perhaps more telling than resolutions were the quiet conversations in courtrooms that day. Lawyers asking: What reforms do we need to prevent this? Should bar councils push for psychological screening of court security officers? Should we establish a threat protocol for lawyers handling volatile domestic cases? Should the Bar be equipped not only to mourn its martyrs — but to protect the living?
The Man Behind the Role
Those closest to Malik Israr remember not just the lawyer, but the man: calm under pressure, unfailingly polite, with a low tolerance for arrogance. He was the kind of senior who didn’t just critique a junior’s draft — he rewrote it with them. He fought tough cases, but never made enemies out of opponents. His leadership was quiet, firm, and unshaken by the pageantry that often surrounds bar politics.
He didn’t set out to be a symbol. But he became one.
A Continuing Case
What happened to Malik Israr Ahmed should have been impossible. And that’s the point. The tale of Malik Israr Ahmed must not conclude with violence. It must echo on — in the reforms he championed, the bravery he modelled, and the justice he defended. For every advocate who stands before a court today, every citizen yearning for justice, and every voice that dares confront power — Malik Israr’s legacy is a torch worth carrying.
Bibliography: –
- Dawn News. (2024, June 15). Two lawyers gunned down in Attock court by ASI over ‘personal grudge’.
- Geo News. (2024, June 15). Elite Force ASI guns down two lawyers over ‘personal enmity’ in Attock
- Punjab Police Press Release. (2024, June 15). Official statement on Attock lawyers’ shooting incident.
- The Express Tribune. (2025, January 24). Cop sentenced to death for killing lawyers
