March 22, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, March 21: The lawyers in the Potohar region including the districts of Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Taxila observed strike and protested as a part of the ongoing judicial crisis in the country on Wednesday.

Lawyers of the High Court Bar Association Rawalpindi paid rich tributes to Justice Jawad Khawaja, deputy attorney general Nasir Saeed Sheikh and other judges who resigned from their posts in protest against, what they called, Gen Musharraf attack on the Judiciary which sparked the prevailing judicial crises in the country.

They boycotted courts’ proceedings and organized protest meetings in the court premises. The bar president Sardar Asmatullah Khan, secretary-general Sajid Ilyas Bhatti and others spoke to the protesting lawyers.

Our Correspondent from Attock adds: Layers observed complete strike in Attock.

The local police had set up checkposts at various points to stop protesting lawyers and activists of political parties from entering Islamabad. However, a number of lawyers succeeded to reach Islamabad to join the protesters outside the Supreme Court.

While talking to newsmen, President District Bar Association Rana Afsar Ali Khan along other lawyers including Sheikh Ehsanuddin, Bashir Paracha and Azmat Ali Bukhari said that they would continue their protest till the reinstatement of the chief justice.

Our correspondent from Chakwal adds: Lawyers of Chakwal district observed complete strike and took out a rally to express solidarity with the chief justice.

The rally, after reaching Bhaun Chowk, converted into a big public meeting which was addressed by member Punjab Bar Council Hassan Raza Pasha, president District Bar Haroon Irshad Janjua and secretary Ghulam Jelani Minhas.

Our correspondent from Taxila adds: On the call of the Pakistan Bar Council, lawyers of Taxila and Wah Cantonment boycott the court proceedings.

The lawyers, led by Taxila Bar Association president Munir Khan took out a rally and accused the government of committing blunders, which had resulted in weakening national institutions.