February 03, 2008	Sunday	Muharram 24, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Feb 2: Former vice chairman of Pakistan Bar Council Ali Ahmed Kurd on Saturday said lawyers would not be intimidated by government’s coercive tactics and they would carry on their struggle for the reinstatement of the deposed judges and independence of the judiciary.

Addressing Rawalpindi Bar Association (RBA) on telephone he said, “My three months detention has not weakened my resolve to raise voice for the rule of law and if I am detained for three years I will not give in,” he said.

No lawyer will appear before the PCO judges. The lawyers will shower praise on the deposed judge who heard the voice of their conscience and did not become part of unconstitutional set-up.

If the rulers think that they can silence lawyers, civil society and media through coercion they are mistaken. The legal fraternity is out to work for independent parliament, restoration of judiciary and supremacy of the constitution. “We do not need a prime minister who is government servant but who is a public servant,” he added. He said he would soon come to Punjab to join the lawyers in their struggle for the rule of law.