MANSEHRA: The lawyers` community on Saturday boycotted the court proceedings to protest the killing of a senior colleague here on Friday evening.

On the call of the district bar association, the lawyers` fraternity observed the complete boycott of courts to protest against the killing of Iftikhar Khan Advocate, a former vicepresident and a member of the district bar association.

Iftikhar Advocate was killed and four other people sustained critical injuries when rival groups exchanged fire over a piece of disputed land in Sherpur area of the district on Friday.

Litigants, who came from across the district for pursuance of their cases, returned without their cases being heard.

Funeral prayers of the slain were offered in his native Sherpur village, where people from different walks of life largely showed up.

Hafiz Naseem Khan Advocate, president of the district bar association, told reporters that district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur should ensure the early arrest of the two accused involved in the lawyer`s murder.

Mr Naseem said that the district bar would hold a condolence reference for the lawyer on Tuesday.-Correspondent