November 5, 2003	Wednesday	Ramazan 9, 1424

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ISLAMABAD Nov 4: The combined opposition in the National Assembly marched from the Parliament House on to the Constitution Avenue and up to the Supreme Court premises on Tuesday to protest against the seven-year detention of Asif Ali Zardari.

Senior leaders of MMA, ARD and Ponam led the procession carrying placards and banners after staging a walkout from the National Assembly.

The placards and banners were inscribed with slogans such as: “Set the prisoner of conscience Asif Zardari free,” “No Musharraf No, Go Musharraf Go,” and “Bring Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif back,” etc.

Speaking to the gathering, ARD chairman Amin Fahim said: “We have knocked every door for justice but it appears that justice was itself in chains and under detention.”

The acting president of ARD, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, asked the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to take suo motu action in order to administer oath under the 1973 constitution to superior courts’ judges.

Similarly, he asked all government functionaries, including Prime Minister Jamali to take fresh oath of office after the restoration of the 1973 Constitution.

MMA deputy Secretary-General Liaquat Baloch said the entire Opposition was together against continued detention of Asif Ali Zardari.

Mehmud Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pakhtoonkhawah Milli Awami Party, asked the people to stand with those who were struggling for restoring the rule of law and democracy which were being trampled by a bunch of adventurers.