January 25, 2008	Friday	Muharram 15, 1429

SAHIWAL, Jan 24: Lawyers boycotted courts and took out anti-government rallies in many districts of Punjab on Thursday.

Hundreds of lawyers boycotted the courts in Sahiwal and took out a protest rally for the independence of the judiciary, reinstatement of deposed judges, withdrawal of notices relating to eviction of these judges from their official residences and release of the arrested lawyers.

The protesters, who began their rally from the district barroom and marched through Sadar Bazaar, Jinnah Street and Kutchery Road to reach the beginning point, were carrying banners inscribed with their demands. They were led by district bar president Tahir Shabbir Chaudhry and office-bearers Rao Nadeem Iqbal, Mian Islam-ul-Haq, Malik Ghulam Hussain and Chaudhry Akram Dial.

Earlier, the lawyers boycotted the courts, wore black armbands and raised slogans against the government.

GUJRANWALA: The district bar association completely boycotted the courts and took out a rally in connection with their anti-government movement.

The lawyers, led by bar president Malik Shaukat Awan, gathered at the barroom after boycotting the courts and decided to continue their protest till acceptance of their demands. They decided to continue the boycott of courts for two hours a day and take out a rally on every Thursday.

Later, they took out a rally, which started from district courts and terminated at Gondlanwala Chowk.

KHANEWAL: Lawyers obser-ved a complete strike and boycotted the district and tehsil courts. Besides, the lawyers obs-erved strikes in Kabirwala, Mian-channu and Jahanian and slammed the government for stifling the judiciary. “We just want restoration of the judiciary and will not accept the judges who took oath under the Provisional Constitution Order,” said Kabir-wala bar secretary Rana Shehzad Nadeem.

Separately, lawyers observed strikes and took out rallies in Vehari and Kasur.