KARACHI, April 4: Lawyers continued their protest campaign in Sindh High Court, city courts and Malir district court on Wednesday against the suspension of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. Four members of Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) observed a token hunger strike in the bar room. They were Manzoor Ahmed Khan, Masroor Ahmed Alvi, Mohammad Younus Shan and G.M. Syed. The lawyers boycotted court proceedings from 10.30am to 11.30am.
A general body meeting of the lawyers was held at the bar room, which was addressed by SHCBA President Abrar Hasan, General Secretary Munir-ur-Rehman, Syed Sami Ahmed, Mohammad Ali Saeed and Shaiq Usmani. The meeting decided that six members of the SHCBA would sit on hunger strike today (Thursday). They are Hanif Kashmiri, M.A. Qadri, Chaudhry Mohammad Iqbal, Mashood Ahmed, Mohammad Tariq Mir and Nasir Rizwan Khan.
Speakers said Tuesday’s strike and protest demonstrations by lawyers across the country was proof of lawyers’ unity and a no-confidence in President Pervez Musharraf. They said the reference against the CJP was a futile exercise which had created a crisis in the country and it should be withdrawn immediately.
They said the lawyers had a one-point agenda of getting the CJP reinstated and they were ready to face whatever difficulties may arise during the campaign.
Fifteen members of Karachi Bar Association (KBA) observed a token hunger strike in the city courts. Those who sat on hunger strike were Sardar Tariq Khan Niazi, Masaud Hussain Khan, Iqbal Baloch, Chaudhry Tariq Yousuf, Chaudhry Saeeduzzaman, Syed Mazhar Mustafa, Z.U. Mujahid, Miss Shamim Khan Lakho, Miss Humaira Nadeem Rana, Ishtiaq Rafiq Janjua, Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry, Nasir Mehmood, and Raja Murtaza.
Lawyers in the city courts boycotted court proceedings from 10.30am to 11.30am. They gathered in Shuhda-e-Punjab Hall of KBA, where they were addressed by Chairman Sindh National Front (SNF) Mumtaz Ali Bhutto. Mr Bhutto said the country was ruled by dictators for about four decades who served their own interests. He said that the rulers had never respected the judiciary and always tried to use it as they wished.
He said the country was passing through a judicial and political crisis but the rulers were busy in non issues. He said the action ordered by the government against the CJP was illegal, and the political parties had not played their role and supported lawyers in their struggle to ensure an independent judiciary in the country. He said the people of Balochistan and Sindh were feeling a sense of deprivation.
The KBA General Secretary, Naeem Qureshi, said the lawyers would continue their campaign till the acceptance of their demands. The lawyers raised slogans against the CJP’s suspension and vowed to get him reinstated.
Four members of Malir Bar Association (MBA) observed a token hunger strike. They were Ishfaq Rajper, Abdur Razaq Solangi, Shah Nawaz Baloch and Abdul Hafeez Baloch. The lawyers boycotted court proceedings for two hours from 10.30am to 12.30pm. They marched in the district courts premises and raised slogans against the CJP’s suspension. A general body meeting was held which was addressed by MBA President Zahoor Hussain Mehar, Vice President Muhammad Ashraf Samo, General Secretary Abdul Naeem Memon and Treasurer Abdul Hafeez Baloch.
