December 01, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Nov 30: Lawyers of the District Bar Association (DBA) continued their protest on Friday against what they called the unconstitutional steps of the government taken after the state of emergency was proclaimed in the country on November 3.

In a meeting of the general body that was presided over by President Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) Sardar Asmatullah, the lawyers also criticised the judges who had taken oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).

Praising the sacked judges of the Supreme Court, the lawyers called them a symbol of resistance and beacon of hope for the coming generations. They said it was first time in the history of the country that the judges had stood up against the unlawful moves of a military dictator and vowed to continue their protests till the restoration of deposed judges.

Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was punished for helping the missing persons whose families were left with no other choice than to resort to the Supreme Court, the lawyers added.

Former chairman Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Abdul Rehman Ansari said on the occasion that the lawyers were being victimised and intimidated for raising the voice against the establishment.

He denounced the amendments in the bar Act and rejected the changes in it, saying no action on the part of government could suppress lawyers’ protests. The lawyers are united and determined to continue the movement for establishing the rule of law in the country, he added.