June 22, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 06, 1428

SHEIKHUPURA, June 21: Lawyers in city, Nankana, Sangla Hill and Ferozewala staged demonstrations on Thursday in support of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. They stayed away from court proceedings and observed complete strike against the reference moved by President Gen Musharraf against the CJP.

They took out processions and marched on roads of their respective cities raising slogans against the president.

Sheikhupura Bar president Nasrullah Wattoo condemned in his speech the action of the president and said he had damaged all institutions, including judiciary.

Lawyers adopted a unanimous resolution urging the Britain government to withdraw knighthood conferred on Salman Rushdie.

The resolution demanded the government to sever diplomatic ties with the UK till withdrawal of knighthood from Rushdie.

GUJRANWALA: Lawyers observed a complete strike, boycotted the court proceedings and took out a rally. They gathered in the bar room and expressed their solidarity with the CJP.

Later, they took out a rally led by bar president Ilyas Rehan and other office-bearers. They raised slogans against the government and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for filing reference against the CJP and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan, respectively.

They also condemned the British government for conferring knighthood on Salman Rushdie.

VEHARI: Lawyers set up hunger strike camp in front of the district bar room.

Bar president Rana Sajid said on the occasion that the lawyers from Vehari would attend reception for the CJP being held in Multan on June 23.

He said the lawyers’ struggle would continue till the independence of judiciary.