November 19, 2007	Monday	Ziqa’ad 08, 1428

PESHAWAR, Nov 18: Barrister Baachaa, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, has said that all stakeholders should agree on the one-point agenda of ridding the country of the military dictator.

Barrister Baachaa was sent to the Haripur central prison under the Maintenance of Public Order and released on Friday night along with other lawyers after remaining in captivity for 13 days.

In a statement issued here, he said that any politician or party supporting the present dictatorial regime would betray the struggle of lawyers who had made innumerable sacrifices during the last seven months.

He said the authorities concerned had left no stone unturned in making the stay of lawyers in prison as unpleasant and uncomfortable as possible. But, the barrister said, the support of the Peshawar High Court and Peshawar Bar Association, family and friends strengthened their resolve during their long hours in captivity.

He said the lawyers’ struggle for an independent judiciary, rule of law, restoration of democracy, supremacy of the Constitution and free press would continue.

Barrister Baachaa said that at a time when the political leadership of the country had failed the people of Pakistan, it was the lawyers who took the initiative and launched a movement in the country.

He said people from every walk of life, the print and electronic media in particular, supported the lawyers and forced the once mighty General Musharraf to get off his ‘high horse’ and hold out an olive branch to the same person he himself had accused of looting the national wealth.

Barrister Baachaa highlighted the achievements of lawyers across the country and regretted that even at this crucial juncture when the survival of a democratic Pakistan was at stake, politicians were engaged in point scoring and were interested only in securing a place for themselves in the future set up.