June 15, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 29, 1428

HYDERABAD, June 14: Lawyers in Hyderabad, Khairpur and Nawabshah boycotted courts on Thursday to express solidarity with Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

In Hyderabad the lawyers including office-bearers of district and high court bar associations boycotted courts and staged a rally wearing black armbands. The rally started from civil courts building and terminated outside the press club where the participants staged a demonstration.

Hyderabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) President Abdul Sattar Kazi, HCBA Secretary Allah Bachayo Soomro, Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA) Secretary Noorul Haq Qureshi said in their addresses to a general body meeting at the high court building that they would continue their struggle till the restoration of 1973 Constitution, reinstatement of CJP and withdrawal of cases against lawyers.

They said that May 12 killings in Karachi would result in the ouster of present regime. The rulers were now trapped in a blind alley and people would not let them flee, they would hold them accountable for their actions, they said.

Activists of Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and People’s Party Parliamentarians also participated in the lawyers’ demonstration outside the press club.

PPP MPA Zahid Bhurgri, PML-N's Afzal Gujjar and JI's Sheikh Shaukat addressed the protesters who were raising slogans, demanding resignation of Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Our Khairpur correspondent adds: Scores of lawyers boycotted court proceedings after 12 pm on Thursday and staged a procession under the aegis of People's Lawyers Forum (PLF).The lawyers led by PLF President Liaquat Shar marched on different roads of the city raising slogans in favour of CJP Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and demanding withdrawal of presidential reference against him.

Our Nawabshah correspondent adds: Members of DBA boycotted court proceedings and vowed to continue their struggle till the reinstatement of Chief Justice of Pakistan here on Thursday.