LAHORE – A renowned Scottish lawyer Paul McBride was found dead in his room at a hotel located on The Mall on Sunday. He was 47.
McBride, hailing from Edinburgh, was a board member of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, and a former Vice Chairman of the Faculty of Advocates Criminal Bar Association.
Race Course Police Station In-charge Investigation Ch Munawar Hanjera told this scribe that apparently it seemed he died owing to cardiac arrest but we recovered empty bottles of liquor and covers of diazepam tablets from his room. He said McBride flanked by his two friends Fareed and Anwar Aslam arrived in Pakistan to attend a marriage ceremony of his friend’s son.
“After attending the ceremony, on Saturday night they rented three rooms of the hotel and went to sleep in separate rooms. But we learned he was found dead around 2:15 am on Sunday,” investigation officer stated. Munawar Hanjera, however, ruled out the possibility that he was murdered by saying he died probably due to drugs’ influence. “Yes, McBride represented high-profile clients in controversial criminal cases and also led the legal teams which won the acquittal of human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar of contempt of court in July 2008, and Gail Sheridan of perjury in HM Advocate v Sheridan and Sheridan,” he added.
“Since 2010 McBride defended numerous cases of international level but his death in Pakistan is a natural incident as no such evidence has been collected so far, which may hint that he was murdered. No injury or mark of torture is found on McBride’s body,” the IO added.
A senior police officer said the hotel authorities had also confirmed about his natural death. “We have contacted the family members in Scotland and have informed them about his sudden demise, who are on the way to Pakistan,” he added. Later, the body was shifted to City morgue.
To a query, the City’s morgue official said the post-mortem will be conducted after the legal heirs of the deceased lawyer arrive in Pakistan. No case was registered against anyone till filing of this report. Further investigations are underway.