July 05, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 19, 1428

OKARA, July 4: Traders and lawyers observed partial strike and the JUI-F took out a protest rally against Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa incident in Islamabad on Wednesday.

On the appeal of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F), dozens of party activists, led by district amir Haji Ihsanul Haq and general secretary Syed Shamsul Haq Gilani, took out a rally. The protesters marched on city streets and raised slogans against the government. MMA district president Dr Liaquat Ali Kausar addressed the protesters and supported the protest call given by the JUI-F.

The traders of all the city bazaars shut down their shops for few hours.

Similarly, the lawyers observed a complete strike and boycotted court proceedings against the law ministry for preparing and presenting bogus and contemptuous documents before the Supreme Court and the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa incident.

A heavy police contingent stood alert across the city to avoid any untoward incident.

TOBA DBA: The District Bar Association on Wednesday observed strike as a mark of protest against crackdown on the Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid in Islamabad.

They also expressed solidarity with Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry by wearing black armbands and hoisting black flag in the bar room.