KARACHI, March 21: A rally organised by PPP’s Karachi chapter here on Wednesday asked the rulers to step down as they were solely responsible for the “attack on the independence of the judiciary and the state-sponsored violence against protesting lawyers, as well as against media.”

Carrying banners, posters and placards, participants of the rally assembled at Regal Chowk and started a march towards the Supreme Court Registry via Zaibunnisa Street, Sarwar Shaheed Road and M.R. Kyani Road. PPP leaders Mian Raza Rabbani, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Nisar Ahmed Khuhro led the marchers.

The rally was staged to condemn General Pervez Musharraf’s move to suspend the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and the recent police action against a private TV channel, journalists and lawyers.

The protesters kept on chanting slogans against the military leadership and government all along the route of their march asking General Pervez Musharraf to stop down immediately.

A strong contingent of police was deployed at the Regal Chowk and outside the SC Registry building to cope with any eventuality. However, no untoward incident took place.

Several PPP leaders addressed the participants when they converged on SC Registry. Deputy Secretary-General of the party Mian Raza Rabbani resolved to continue the movement against the regime till the restoration of the apex court’s honour and prestige. He accused General Musharraf of violating the sanctity of the Supreme Court.

Sindh chief of the party Syed Qaim Ali Shah said the rulers had brought the country to a critical juncture. Condemning the filing of presidential reference against the CJP, he asked the rulers to quit before being overthrown by masses.

Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said that the PPP had never surrendered to the state-sponsored oppression. He reiterated the party’s resolve to continue its struggle until the restoration of true democracy, supremacy of the Constitution and independence of judiciary.