October 02, 2007	Tuesday	Ramazan 19, 1428

PESHAWAR, Oct 1: The lawyers’ community on Monday resolved not to allow any MPA to cast their vote in the presidential election on October 6.

The lawyers observed a black day and boycotted court proceedings in protest against the use of brute force by police against lawyers and journalists in Islamabad and other cities.

A joint general body meeting of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association and the Peshawar District Bar Association criticised the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for delaying the advice by the chief minister to the governor for dissolution of the NWFP assembly.

The meeting was followed by a protest demonstration.

Black flags were hoisted at various points in the high court, judicial complex and session court.

PDBA president Maulana Shamsul Haq said that due to the delay in the advice the pro-Musharraf parties got opportunity to submit a no-confidence resolution in the assembly after which the chief minister could not tender the advice to the governor.

NWFP vice-president of Muslim League Lawyers Wing Pir Buksh Mehtab, announced quitting his organisation in

protest against the treatment meted out to lawyers and journalists in Islamabad and other cities.

He said that in present situation he could not continue with the Muslim Lawyers Forum.

PHCBA president Lateef Afridi said that they had already decided to besiege the NWFP assembly and not to let any MPA to cast the vote on Oct 6.

He said that the lawyers movement would culminate with their victory against a military ruler.

PHCBA secretary-general Ishtiaq Ibraheem, Barrister Baachha, Kareem Mehsud, Abbas Sangeen, Nek Nawaz Khan, Ghulam Nabi, Qaiser Rasheed, Pir Buksh Mehtab, Hazrat Said, Naveed Akhter and S.N.Sabir also spoke on the occasion.

They criticised the All Parties Democratic Alliance for delaying the advice for dissolution of the NWFP Assembly.

They said that the pro-Musharraf groups were provided enough time to chalk out strategy for pre-empting the move.

They said that Gen Musharraf had been using all tactics to fizzle out the lawyers movement and due to same reason the lawyers were severely tortured and beaten in Islamabad. They said that with such tactics their movement could not be stopped.