February 07, 2008	Thursday	Muharram 28, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 6: The city bar associations have appealed to all human rights activists, non-governmental organisations, political parties and civil society at large to participate in their protest rally due to be taken out from the Karachi Bar Association office at 11:30am on Thursday. The rally will culminate at the Karachi Press Club.

“If an attempt is made to block the procession, a sit-in will be staged on M. A. Jinnah Road,” Sindh High Court Bar Association President Rasheed A. Razvi, Karachi Bar Association President Mahmoodul Hasan and Malir Bar Association President Zahoor Hussain Mehr told a press conference here on Wednesday.

Asked whether they have sought permission for the rally, they said Section 144 had been withdrawn and there was no ban now on peaceful rallies.

They agreed that the rally coincided with the Chehlum of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, but pointed out that Thursday had long been observed by the legal fraternity as a protest day and it was a mere coincidence that the two events were occurring the same day this time.

The Bar representatives said the plan was flexible and a final decision would be taken by a general body meeting to be held at the KBA and addressed by former justice Wajihuddin Ahmed at 10:30am on Thursday.

The decision would be taken keeping in view the situation on the ground, including any security threat, they added.

Mr Razvi said the struggle for the restoration of the judiciary and ouster of Pervez Musharraf was gaining momentum and it would soon achieve the objectives.