19 August 2004	Thursday	02 Rajab 1425

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GUJRANWALA, Aug 18: Lawyers across the province observed a black day on Wednesday on the occasion of by-polls on two NA seats for the nominated prime minister on the appeal of the Pakistan Bar Council.

In Gujranwala, the lawyers gathered at the bar room hall and held a meeting to protest the election of nominated prime minister Shauket Aziz. Lawyers, including Chaudhry Muhammad Ishaq Aulakh, Muhammad Javaid Paal, Shauket Ali Awan, Dr Sheikh Eizad Masood and Maqbool Qureshi, criticized the government for nominating federal minister Shauket Aziz as prime minister and termed it a pre-poll rigging.

They unanimously adopted a resolution condemning by-polls on two NA seats and opposing an amendment to the bar council act under which courts had been empowered to impeach the lawyers. The lawyers, wearing black armbands and chanting anti-government slogans, demanded that the amendment should be withdrawn immediately.

SIALKOT: On the call of the Pakistan Bar Council, the lawyers observed a black day in Sialkot, Daska, Shakargarh, Pasrur and Narowal. According to a press release, the lawyers held protest meetings and hoisted black flags atop their respective bar offices.

The protesting lawyers unanimously passed resolutions in which they condemned the forced resignation of Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and simultaneous announcement of two future prime ministers.

The Sialkot, Daska, Pasrur, Shakargarh and Narowal bars also took a strong exception to the nomination of Shauket Aziz as prime minister. These bars were of the view that Shauket Aziz had neither roots in Pakistan nor he served the country as politician, but had been nominated for the top slot on the dictation of a foreign power for its vested interest.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Lawyers of Kamalia also observed a complete strike on Wednesday in protest against the proposed defamation bill presented by the government in the national assembly and the nomination of Shauket Aziz as prime minister. While the lawyers of Toba Tek Singh wore black armbands to express their anguish.