February 15, 2008	Friday	Safar 07, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 14: The legal fraternity on Thursday reiterated its demand that President Pervez Musharraf step down as the country was passing through multiple crises “because of his wrong policies”.

They said there was no other option left for Pervez Musharraf than to quit presidency, and said all current troubles, including the judicial crisis, afflicting the country would be over after his departure.

Speaking at a general body meeting of the Karachi Bar Association held in the Shuhada-i-Punjab Hall of the City Courts, the lawyers condemned the attack on Advocate Azmat Jabbar, who was coming to the courts on Thursday morning when some gunmen reportedly opened fire on him. However, he escaped unhurt.

Karachi Bar Association President Mahmoodul Hasan said the attacks on lawyers were high deplorable but those tactics would not affect the ongoing struggle for the reinstatement of the deposed judges, the independence of the judiciary, the restoration of democracy, the rule of law and supremacy of the constitution.

KBA Vice-President Mushtaq Ahmad Jahangiri, joint secretary Muzaffar Iqbal Sufi, Karim Memon and Abdul Qadir Junejo also spoke at the meeting and vowed to continue their struggle despite all odds as an independent judiciary was an essential part of a civilised society.

The lawyers took out a procession from the KBA office after the general body meeting. They marched on Raja Raiz Shaheed Road, formerly Lewis Road, and staged a sit-in on M. A. Jinnah Road.

They blocked traffic for some time, but later dispersed peacefully. They shouted pro-judiciary and anti-government slogans during the rally.

Legal proceedings remained suspended on the fourth consecutive day at the City Courts and the district court of Malir as the lawyers stayed away from court proceedings in response to a strike call given by the Pakistan Bar Council at the lawyers’ convention on Feb 9 to boycott the entire judiciary till Feb18.

About 232 under-trial prisoners were brought to the City Courts from different prisons of the city, but were taken back to their respective prisons without being produced in court due to the lawyers’ strike. However, the judges remained present in their respective chambers.

Most of the stationary shops, cabins, stamp-vendors stalls and canteens situated on the court premises remained open.