July 13, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 27, 1428

HYDERABAD, July 12: Lawyers observed complete boycott of courts across the province on Thursday in response to a call given by the Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association to express solidarity with the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

In Hyderabad, Abdul Sattar Kazi, vice-president Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA) said at a lawyers’ general body meeting that they would continue struggle for the restoration of 1973 Constitution and reinstatement of chief justice.

Mr Kazi condemned the firing incident outside the residence of HDBA general secretary and demanded arrest of culprits.

The meeting also offered ghaibana namaz-i-janaza for the people killed in Lal Masjid tragedy.

Later, the lawyers staged a rally, which started from the civil court building and terminated at the hunger strikers’ camp outside the civil courts.

PML-N leader Haneef Siddiqui, PPP's Amanullah Siyal and Usman Kennedy and activists of Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party and Pakistan Tehrik-i- Insaf also joined the lawyers’ protest.

Lawyers in Nawabshah, Naushahro Feroze, Kandiaro, Moro, Bhirya, Khairpur, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and their adjoining towns also boycotted court proceedings in response the two supreme bodies of country’s lawyers.

Our correspondent adds: Bhittai Nagar police lodged a case on the complaint of Noorul Haq Qureshi, general secretary of the Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA), for an armed attack on his house by activists of some political parties. The case was lodged under sections 506(2), 34 PPC, 337H(ii) of Qiasas and Diyat Ordinance against Khadim Unnar and Ali Gohar Chandio.