08 March 2005	Tuesday	26 Muharram 1426

ISLAMABAD, March 7: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has said it would launch a protest movement against establishment of federal courts.

Terming the step a bid to establish a parallel judiciary, Raja Mahmood Akhtar, the PBC Vice-Chairman, told this news agency that the proposed federal courts were unconstitutional.

He said the PBC in a recent meeting had demanded that existing courts be strengthened and all existing vacancies in the superior courts should be filled on the basis of merit and sincerity. He said the PBC would take steps to expedite trial under Article 6 of those accused of subverting the Constitution. -PPI