May 29, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 12, 1428

HYDERABAD, May 28: Lawyers boycotted court proceedings in Hyderabad in protest against swearing-in of acting Chief Justice Javed Iqbal. They staged a token hunger strike outside the civil courts after boycotting the proceedings in civil, sessions and high courts on Monday.

A press release of Hyderabad District Bar Association said that the protest rally was led by the president of the High Court Bar Association, Hyderabad, Abdul Sattar Kazi, general secretary Allah Bachayo Soomro, Hyderabad District Bar Association president Abdul Aziz Sheikh and general secretary Noorul Haq Qureshi.

The lawyers raised slogans in support of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. They vowed to continue their struggle till independence of judiciary.

The lawyers called for restoration of Constitution of 1973 and setting up of a consensus national government to hold free and fair elections under an independent election commission so that power could be transferred to genuine representatives of people.

Political leaders and activists also visited the hunger strike camp outside the civil courts’ building.

DADU: Lawyers boycotted court proceedings in Dadu, Johi, Sehwan, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Kotri and demanded withdrawal of the reference filed against the CJP.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Members of the district and taluka bars boycotted court proceedings in Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Kandiaro and Bhirya. They were demanding withdrawal of presidential reference against the CJP.

NAWABSHAH: The District Bar Association members boycotted court proceedings. They said that no judge could take oath of the office of acting chief justice in the presence of a sitting chief justice.