July 19, 2007	Thursday

GUJRANWALA, July 18: The PPP activists and lawyers on Wednesday condemned the suicide attack at the venue for Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s address in the capital.

In Gujranwala, a district bar association meeting alleged that the US was aggravating the situation in Pakistan by using the president. They demanded restoration of the Constitution and vowed to continue protests till the CJP’s reinstatement. They expressed sorrow over the death of the PPP workers in the suicide attack and offered ‘fateha’ for them.

BAHAWALPUR: The PPP city officials set up a camp at Fowara Chowk to protest against the suicide attack. The camp was bedecked with banners showing anti-government slogans. The PPP activists criticised the government for failing to maintain law and order.

The MMA, the PML-N and the Tehrik-i-Insaaf also condemned the attack and demanded that the government higher-ups should quit. Members of district and high court bar associations also observed complete strike.

OKARA: A similar camp was set up in Okara tehsil where PPP’s local leaders expressed their feelings about the incident and prayed for the departed souls.

VEHARI: Observing strike against the blast that claimed many lives, the lawyers of the district bar association and adjoining areas took out a rally.

DBA president Rana Sajid led the rally passing through main roads with the participants raising slogans to give vent to their disquiet. Holding the government responsible for the lapse, they demanded that Gen Musharraf should quit as “he has now no justification to stay in power”.

MIANWALI: Boycott of court proceedings and processions by lawyers were witnessed in this neck of the wood as well with the participants condemning the dastardly act through slogans.