The recent attack on a civil court in Peshawar was the worst case scenario of mob rule. There is no example of such unprecedented violence in any civilized area in our immediate neighbourhood. The magistrate involved in the incident was delivering justice to the poor and down trodden apparently without any fear or favour. However, he found himself totally helpless before the brute force of a group of lawyers ready to resort to violence. Such behaviour is unseemly in self-proclaimed defenders of the rule of law. I call upon them to shun these anti-judiciary activities and concentrate on their professional responsibilities. The saner elements from amongst the lawyers community are also requested to come forward, take leadership in their hands and liberate their community from these thugs who are bringing a bad name to their noble profession. -SYED AFSAR SHAH BUKHARI, Charsadda, January 10.