June 17, 2007	Sunday	Jumadi-us-Sani 01, 1428

FAISALABAD, June 16: A large number of lawyers, political and human rights activists and the general public waited for the motorcade of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

At the time of filing of this report at 12.30am, the CJP and his companions were in Chiniot.

Though the scheduled time of his arrival here was 5pm, lawyers and activists of the political parties crowding the area around the bar premises since morning. Scores of lawyers’ caravan from other districts also reached Faisalabad. A caravan of 15 lawyers of the Jaranwala bar came here by foot. People showered rose petals on lawyers’ caravans amid slogans of “go Musharraf go”.

Major political parties. including PPP, PML-N, Jamat-i-Islami, PTI and others had set up camps outside the bar premises.

Punjab PPP president Shah Mahmood Qureshi along with other leaders addressed a press conference and paid tribute to the lawyers and residents of Faisalabad for inviting the CJP.

With every passing moment, the number of activists and lawyers kept soaring who waited for the guest with enthusiasm. They also danced to drum beats.

A large police force had been deployed on different roads and inside the bar premises.

There were reports of police demolishing opposition camps and blocking convoys of lawyers and political workers on different roads but police denied such charges.

The arrest of political leaders and workers, which began a few days ago, continued till Saturday morning in the district.

A large stage was put up in the district bar premises where 8,000 chairs had been arranged.

Food boxes were also distributed among lawyers coming from outside Faisalabad by the DBA.

The DBA president told a news conference that scores of judges of lower and higher courts wanted to attend the event but they were directed by authorities to stay away from the event.