KARACHI, March 28: Lawyers continued their campaign in Sindh High Court, the city courts and Malir district court. They were protesting against the suspension of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry .
Three members of Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) observed a token hunger strike. Those who sat on hunger strike were Mumtaz Ali Khan Deshmuk, Tauqeer Ali Khan and Syed Mohammad Qasim.
The lawyers also boycotted the courts’ proceedings for one hour from 10.30am to 11.3am.
They said that the lawyers’ campaign for reinstatement was peaceful and the objectives were quite clear, adding that they would continue it at all costs and would not fall prey to any conspiracy.
It was said that government was trying to weaken the lawyers’ unity by using different tactics, but could not do so.
They said that lawyers were not fighting for their personal gains, but campaigning for upholding of the supremacy of constitution and strengthening of the democratic institutions.
Sixteen members of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) also observed a token hunger strike in the city courts.
Those who sat on hunger strike were Noor Naz Agha, Irshad Qureshi, Khalil Ansari, Raza Ali Sandeelo, Hakim Ali Shaikh, G.M Bhutto, Nisar Dogar, Riaz Somro, Jahangir Rahooju, Ghulam Asghar, Aqib Rajber, Khalid Siddiqui, Javaid Rajput, Anjum, Khadim Hussain Khuharo and Nadeem Shehzad.
Legal proceedings in the city courts remained suspended for one hour from 10.30am to 11.30am.
The lawyers held a general body meeting in front of the city courts, which was addressed by President KBA Iftikhar Javaid Qazi, General Secretary Naeem Qureshi and KBA Member Shahadat Awan.
The speakers accused the Sindh chief minister of using state machinery to force lawyers to change their loyalties in the government’s favour and asked the CM to refrain from resorting to actions that could aggravate the situation.
The speakers also condemned the provincial government’s action of compelling law officers in the Sindh government to attend the law convention in Hyderabad on March 28.
They said this was not a representative convention of the lawyers’ community, but a gathering of government employees forced to attend by the CM; who were ordered to attend or face the government’s wrath.
The lawyers marched around the city courts and raised slogans against President Pervez Musharraf, the Sindh CM, and federal information minister. They also shouted slogans in favour of the CJP and for lawyers’ unity.
Meanwhile, General Secretary Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh Mohammad Amin Khattak, also sat for one hour in the hunger strike camp to express solidarity with the lawyers.
He said that his party fully supported the democratic forces. He said the CJP’s suspension was unconstitutional and such actions could cause serious law and order situation in the country.
Four members of Malir Bar Association (MBA) observed a token hunger strike. Those who sat on hunger strike were Zulfiqar Ali Shaikh, Mohammad Sharif Awan, Shams-ul-Hadi and Naeem Asif.
The lawyers boycotted courts proceedings from 10.30am to 11.30am. Vice President MBA Mohammad Ashraf Samoo said that lawyers were determined to follow decisions of Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association for reinstatement of CJP.
