MARDAN, Jan 11: Lawyers took out a rally against government policies on Friday and demanded restoration of deposed judges and lifting of curbs on media.

The protesters gathered outside the office of Mardan Bar Association and took out a procession which converged at the Pakistan Chowk.

Addressing the public meeting, president of the bar association Khan Ghawas Khan condemned the suicide attack near the Lahore High Court building.

He called President Pervez Musharraf ‘a failed ruler’ and said his regime was becoming a security risk for the country. He urged him to step down as no one felt safe under him.

The country is on the brink of a civil war but the regime is least bothered about the situation, he said.

He alleged that President Musharraf had deposed the superior court judges only to save his skin and run the country on his own terms and conditions.

The protesters also called for withdrawal of the Pemra Ordinance and repealing of the Army Act. They raised anti-Musharraf slogans and called for a new Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls.

They condemned the shortage of flour and loadshedding of power and gas. They claimed that artificial crises had been created to divert attention of people from real issues.