April 19, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 01, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, April 18: Police on Wednesday booked 12 women political activists and ten lawyers on charges of attempt to murder and snatching cash from a pro-government individual.

Rana Abdul Hakeem, a father of six, carrying a large portrait of President Gen Pervez Musharraf was shouting pro-Musharraf slogans when a group of angry protesters pounced upon him and started thrashing him.

Police sources said, 12 out of the 22 persons included Pakistan Muslim League (N) women activists while ten others were six women and two male lawyers. However, the names of the lawyers booked by the police have not been identified in the FIR registered with the police.

The case against the PML-N activists and lawyers was registered with the Secretariat police on the complaint of Rana Abdul Hakeem.

Eye witnesses and the victim said the angry protesters tore up the portrait of President Musharraf which Mr Rana was carrying, snatched his cell phone and Rs 500 and also tore up his clothes.

Mr Rana who suffered bruises and injuries continued shouting pro-Musharraf slogans despite being beaten up.

While recording his statement before the police investigating officer, Mr Rana said he had been attending President Musharraf’s rallies he had held in different cities and pledged to attend all the rallies held by president in future.

The women activists identified in the FIR were Nasreen, Saeeda Saleem, Fatima Butt, Farzana, Yasmin Khan,

Najma Mushtaq, Najam Ara, Zaib-un-Nisa Awan and Zarian Kishwar.

Activists of different political parties, civil society organisations and lawyers on Wednesday staged demonstration outside Supreme Court building to express solidarity with Chief Justice Mr Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

The participants of the rally were carrying placards and raising slogans in favour of Chief Justice of Pakistan.

The leaders of opposition PPP Jahanghir Badar, Farzana Raja, Zamrad Khan, PML-N’s Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, Ahsan Iqbal, Zafarul Haq, MMA’s Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Liaqat Baloch, Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s Imran Khan and others led their respective parties during the demonstration.

The leaders during their address blamed the government for arresting their activists to sabotage their peaceful demonstration.

They vowed that they would not rest until the CJ was reinstated. They demanded withdrawal of Presidential Reference against the CJ.

All Pakistan Minorities Alliance president Shahbaz Bhatti said Apma supported Chief Justice as a matter of principle.

TAXILA: Lawyers of Taxila boycotted courts.

A large number of lawyers were halted at Margalla and Tarnol pickets and were sent backed.

CHAKWAL: Complete strike was observed by the lawyers throughout district Chakwal, Talagang and Choa Saiden Shah, thus causing great hardships to the litigants.

A hunger strike camp was also established by district bar Chakwal in front of Supreme Court building on Wednesday which was largely attended by the political leaders of different parties.

ATTOCK: Lawyers of Attock district also observed complete strike.