HYDERABAD, March 10: Lawyers in the interior of Sindh boycotted courts on Saturday to condemn the action against the chief justice. The lawyers termed the president’s action illegal, unconstitutional. In Hyderabad, lawyers boycotted courts, held a protest meeting and brought out a rally from the district court to the press club where they observed hunger strike.
Former advocate general of Sindh Qurban Ali Chohan said that the chief justice could not be removed till the announcement of decision on the reference filed against him by the president of Pakistan.
Former president of Hyderabad District Bar Association Chaudhry Basheer Ahmed Gujjar said that Justice Chaudhry had given voice to the poor and the oppressed.
At a hurriedly called press conference senior lawyer and Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo termed the decision as the blackest in the history of Pakistan and charged that he had been held a virtual hostage for several hours in the army house.
He urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the decision and announced that Awami Tehrik would observe protest demonstrations and hunger strikes across the province on March 11, 12 and 13 against the decision.
People’s Party Parliamentarians leaders Parvez Ansari and Zahid Ali Bhurgri termed the decision as unconstitutional.
SANGHAR: District Bar Association President Anwar Mehmood Nizamani slammed the removal decision and termed it unconstitutional and undemocratic. The president was acting like Gen Yahya Khan, he said.
The lawyers would boycott courts and hoist black flags on court buildings on Monday in protest against the undemocratic decision, he said.
NAWABSHAH: Lawyers boycotted court proceedings and brought out a rally in protest against action against chief justice.
DBA President Ali Mohammad Dahri and General Secretary Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said that the decision was unconstitutional and a first step towards imposition of emergency.
They demanded that Justice Javed Iqbal who took oath as acting chief justice and asked him and Justice Hameed Dogar should resign immediately as they had bypassed the constitution. People’s Lawyers Forum also condemned the decision.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Lawyers boycotted the court proceedings and brought out a rally. Lawyers in Moro, Kandiaro and Bhirya also boycotted the court proceedings.
KHAIRPUR: Lawyers staged a procession against the president’s decision against chief justice.
Peoples’ Lawyers Forum President Liaquat Shar and DBA President Shafqat Mahessar led the procession.
The leaders condemned the decision and termed it an act of harassing the judiciary.
PPP Sindh President Syed Qaim Ali Shah termed the decision the saddest examples in the history of Pakistan and added that the act seemed politically motivated.
He said that the government had launched a campaign against the chief justice but had not allowed him to give his version. He should be allowed to give his side of the story, he said.
MIRPURKHAS: Lawyers boycotted court proceedings and took out a rally in the district.
Former DBA president Ali Hassan Chandio and Sher Mohammad Wassan who led the rally said that the suspension would affect the early disposal of cases.
Lawyers in Umerkot also boycotted court proceedings and took out a rally demanding immediate reinstatement of the chief justice.
DADU: Lawyers in the district boycotted court proceedings while PPP leaders including former law minister Pir Mazharul Haq slammed the decision at a meeting of party workers in Tando Rahim Yar Khan village.
LARKANA: Lawyers boycotted the court proceedings in the circuit bench of Sindh High Court and lower courts and held a general body meeting.
High Court Bar Association President Khalid Iqbal Memon and District Bar Association President Ayaz Soomro termed the decision a blow to the judiciary’s independence.
The chief justice had taken serious notice of enforced disappearances of people and provided justice to people through suo moto actions, which made President Musharraf afraid of him.
