February 01, 2008	Friday	Muharram 22, 1429

SARGODHA, Jan 31: Lahore High Court’s deposed judge Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif said he was being pressurised and harassed by the government to keep away from lawyers’ movement but he would not accept any pressure or threat in this regard.

He was addressing a seminar organised here on `Independence of Judiciary’ by the district bar association.

He urged people, particularly the youth to join and support the lawyer’s movement for upholding supremacy of law and independence of the judiciary, which, he said, was imperative for the survival of the country.

He said justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other deposed judges of apex and high courts had set an example by standing up for principles and now it was the job of lawyers, members of civil society and the youth to work for their protection.

He said independence of judiciary was the only solution to the problems country was facing.

He said former head of the province tried to force him to favour police high-ups which he thought were responsible for the deaths of civil judges of Sialkot in a jail riot, but he decided the case on merit.

He added that he and other judges of the Lahore High Court saved Punjab from blame by supporting justice Chaudhry.

He said Musharraf regime violated all ethical and moral values and forced the judiciary to work in accordance with whims and wishes of rulers but Justice Chaudhry and his colleagues refused to succumb to pressure.

He said though overall working of lawyers and general public was suffering but for a greater cause such losses should not be taken seriously.

He said that he would continue to address bar associations to help maintain the tempo of the movement and added that he would also address Lahore High Court Bar Association in the first week of February.

Earlier, DBA president Chaudhry Shamas Naveed Cheema, former head Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad Cheema, secretary general Malik Ghulam Mustafa, and members of civil society addressed the seminar.

Justice Sharif also visited a local law college and addressed the students.

DCO: District Coordination Officer Chaudhry Hameed Amjad Warraich exhorted EDOs of Community Development, Labour, Social Welfare, Sports and Special Education to improve their working.

At a meeting, he said the officers should have played a key role in completion of development works going on in their respective departments.

He ordered the EDOs to ensure meetings with their subordinates and improve the working, or be prepared for stern action.