October 07, 2007	Sunday	Ramazan 24, 1428

PESHAWAR, Oct 6: Lawyers and activists of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) on Saturday held demonstrations and rallies across the province in protest against the candidature of Gen Pervez Musharraf in the presidential election.

The APDM’s call for a strike on the day of presidential polls, however, received a poor response from transporters and traders.

In Kohat, lawyers and APDM leaders held separate protest meetings. The lawyers led by their leader Advocate Abdur Rauf, who is also member of Pakistan People’s Party, boycotted court proceedings and marched to Cantonment Square where they held a meeting.

They said the election of Gen Musharraf for another five years would further push the country into religious and political extremism and terrorism and lead to anarchy.

They asked Gen Musharraf to immediately quit the government and the army.

The APDM’s strike call received a cold response from traders and transporters in Haripur district.

Markets and bazaars remained open for Eid shopping. However, lawyers of Haripur and Tehsil Ghazi boycotted court proceedings and observed a complete strike.

In Swabi, political parties and lawyers staged a protest demonstration.

Leaders of the Awami National Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf, Pakistan Awami Psarty, Jamaat-i-Islami, Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Swabi Bar Association held protest meetings at Kernel Sher Chowk.

The protesters chanted slogans against Gen Musharraf and said the dictator would not be allowed to make the whole country hostage for his vested interest.

In Lakki Marwat, lawyers staged a demonstration and blocked the Bannu-Mianwali road in protest against the presidential election.

They also boycotted the court proceedings and took out a protest procession from the district courts.

Lakki Bar Association president Advocate Mohammad Yaqoob Khan led the procession which turned into a public gathering at Kargil Chowk. They also raised slogans against Gen Musharraf and the government.

In Mansehra, hundreds of APDM workers blocked the Karakoram Highway. The protesters holding placards and banners chanted slogans against the government and President Pervez Musharraf.

In Mardan, APDM’s local leaders and activists brought out a protest procession from Bazar-i-Shaheedan which after marching on different routes reached Kachehri Chowk where they held a public meeting. It was addressed by Abdus Subhan Khan of PML (N), Amir Haidar Khan of the ANP, Advocate Khanzada Khan of the PTI and Maulana Qasim of the JUI (F).