LAHORE, Jan 3: Civil society activists and students joined in hundreds with lawyers in their march from the Aiwan-i-Adl to Data Darbar to condemn the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto, and seeking restoration of the deposed judges and lifting of curbs on media.

The protesters, who had initially planned to march up to the Lahore High Court, had to opt for another route when a heavy police contingent blocked all entry points to The Mall from the Lower Mall.

The placards bearing the slain premier’s picture could be seen sticking out in the procession, which started moving towards Data Darbar as soon as it was barred from marching on The Mall.

The family of Supreme Court Bar Association’s detained president Aitzaz Ahsan was also among the protestors.

The demonstrators chanted slogans against Gen Musharraf (retired), generals and the PML-Q. ‘Zinda hay Bhutto Zinda hay’, ‘Q League, Qatil League’ hai’ and `go Musharraf go’ were popular chants.

The traffic on the Lower Mall came to a stand still as the protestors filled the road. Pedestrians stood by and watched the protestors chant slogans with a zeal that reflected their adherence to the cause being promoted by them.

As all the roads leading to the Lower Mall and Mall Road had been blocked, the commuters faced problems in reaching their destinations.

Addressing the rally, LBA president Syed Muhammad Shah said the late PPP chairperson had identified her assassins in a letter written to Pervez Musharraf before arrival in Pakistan. “The people named in the letter should be investigated and brought to justice without any delay,” Shah demanded.

He also demanded the restoration of all the ‘deposed’ judges and the judiciary to its pre-November 3 status. He demanded the government should lift the curbs imposed on media, especially the Geo news transmission be restored.

He demanded the government should release the incarcerated lawyers and judges and stop boasting about being democratic.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Shamim-ur-Rehman Malik demanded that FIR of Benazir’s assassination should be registered on the complaint of her successors and investigation be held by an international inquiry commission. He paid rich tribute to Benazir and strongly condemned the government for its failure in providing her security which she had been demanding.

Mr Shamim demanded the government should release all lawyers and ‘deposed’ judges, including Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Aitzaz Ahsan, Munir A Malik, Ali Ahmad Kurd and Justice (retd) Tariq Mehmood.

Mrs Bushra Aitzaz also addressed the lawyers and thanked them for launching a massive struggle to save the judiciary and for the release of lawyers. She demanded Musharraf to step down immediately for the sake of sovereignty of the country.

Before concluding the rally, the protesters offered Fateha for the departed soul of Benazir Bhutto outside Data Darbar.

On reaching PMG Chowk, the protestors dispersed peacefully. The lawyers vowed to continue their protest and mourning by boycotting the court proceedings.