August 22, 2006	Tuesday	Rajab 26, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: Fifteen senior lawyers of the Punjab, in a letter, have asked Gen Pervez Musharraf to relinquish one of the offices — president or chief of army staff — in the larger interests of democracy and the country.

The eight-point letter had signatures of senior representatives of the lawyers community from Punjab Bar Council and High Court Bar Association Rawalpindi.

These lawyers also announced they would present a document in the parliament containing signatures of about one million people against the policies of General Musharraf.

Announcement to this effect was made by president High Court Bar Association Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan in a press conference at the court premises on Monday. Secretary general Saeed Yousaf Khan, chairman Punjab Bar Council Executive Committee Hassan Raza Pasha and other senior lawyers were also present on this occasion.

Apart from proposing to quit one of the offices, the lawyers, in the letter, have asked the president to hold general elections under the supervision of the Supreme Court; release all detainees without discrimination; allow all political parties to take part in the forthcoming general elections.

They asked the president not to patronise any of the parties; give complete freedom; take bold steps to ensure rule of law and give parliament an upper hand and; restore the constitution of 1973 in its true spirit.