Police has recovered the body of a lawyer in the jungle of Sector H-9 near Pakistan Television (PTV) Film and Drama Academy. The incident has sparked outrage amongst the lawyer community.
The lawyer was identified as Advocate Sheikh Abdul Rauf, aged 40 years, and was recognised as the senior lawyer by the associates.
The First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Industrial Area Police Station by the victim’s uncle.
Investigation initiated
Police said the investigation has been initiated and every possible motive is being examined. Investigators are looking into whether the killing took place during a robbery or was linked to a personal dispute.
According to the police, initial evidence was collected from the scene and sent to a forensic laboratory for further analysis. Mr Rauf’s mobile phone was recovered, but his car and some important documents are still missing.
As part of the inquiry, the investigation team has requested footage from Islamabad’s Safe City surveillance system. Police are reviewing vehicle movement data to trace the victim’s last known route and to identify any suspicious activity in the area around the time of the incident.
Police said forensics and physical evidence recovered from the site have been sent for testing to help in understanding how the murder was carried out and whether more than one person was involved. Islamabad police said updates would be shared as the investigation progresses.
Lawyers on strike
The killing has drawn attention within the legal community. In protest against the brutal killing of Advocate Sheikh Abdul Rauf, the Islamabad Bar Association announced a complete strike for Wednesday, 14 January 2026. During the strike, no lawyer appeared before the courts, and no court proceedings took place.
In the notice issued by the Islamabad Bar Association’s President, Advocate Chaudhary Naeem Ali Gujjar and General Secretary Advocate Raja Khawar Dhanyal, the lawyers said this is a highly regrettable incident, and the bar demands that the person responsible be arrested immediately and given strict punishment according to the law.
Furthermore, the notice said that the Islamabad Bar Association believes that the safety of citizens, especially lawyers, and the protection of their lives is the responsibility of the police and law-enforcement agencies. In this incident, the failure of the institutions responsible for law and order is clearly visible.
‘The Islamabad Bar Association will not remain silent over the murder of Advocate Sheikh Abdul Rauf and will raise its voice at every forum,’ the notice stated.
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