“After graduating from college, I wanted to join criminal
practice however, no criminal chamber was ready to have a female associate, so
temporarily I joined a female lawyer who dealt with family cases. I continued
my efforts to venture into criminal litigation and eventually got the
opportunity to join Rizwan Law Associates in Islamabad which is one of the
leading criminal law practicing chamber in Islamabad. It was hard work and I got
number of opportunities of work in national and international cases and today
in Islamabad, by grace of Almighty, I am running my own all-female criminal law
practice chamber.
I
remember that when I was going to argue my first bail petition of a murder case
a large number of people were gathered outside the court premises from the
opposing side. As I was entering the court a man mockingly exclaimed, “Oh, they probably couldn’t get any lawyer
so that’s why they sent a female!” and laughed. The petition was eventually
decided in my favor. When I came out of the court the people who had mocked
earlier stood silently. That was a very important moment for me in my career.
I
was also a part of the Bombay attack case in which I assisted my senior. That
was another landmark judgement in our favor. Secondly there was serial rape and
murder case which I had and I won but to me my most important achievement is
that I established the first all-female criminal legal practice chamber in
Islamabad.
I just want to say to that the biggest risk is
not taking the risk and that your comfort zone will always stand in the way of
your progress so never give up and don’t limit your vision. You must keep your
mind on the objective, not on the obstacle. Your attitude will go a long way in
determining your success, your recognition, your reputation and your passion of
being a lawyer.”