March 01, 2008	Saturday	Safar 22, 1429

LAHORE, Feb 29: A lawyers’ rally amid chants for the restoration of pre-emergency judiciary demanded on Friday that parliament strip the president from dissolving the National Assembly.

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) President Imran Khan, who was also present among the protesting lawyers, urged political parties not to betray their mandate, referring to their pledge to restore deposed judges of superior courts.

Lawyers, political workers, mostly from the PTI, students, doctors and civil society activists attended the rally. Waving portraits of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan, protesters marched from Aiwan-i-Adl to Charing Cross.

Following the orders of the SCBA, the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) and the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) recited Azaan-e-Nijaat or prayers for liberation (from dictatorship).

Protesters were showered with rose petals on Hall Road and amid cheers and chants the PTI chief freed pigeons.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairwoman Asma Jahangir, Hina Jilani, Shahtaj Qizalbash, Pakistan Medical Association President Dr Zahid Mohiyuddin, Pakistan Muslim League-N MPA-elect Saeed Elahi, activists of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Labour Party, Tehrik-i-Khaksar, Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party and Academic Staff Association of Punjab University, Students Action Committee and Concern Citizen's of Pakistan were among the protesters.

Prior to the rallies, both bars held their general house meetings.

Addressing the LBA, Mr Khan warned the government in-waiting that any compromise, at the behest of the US, on the reinstatement of judges would tantamount to betraying the people.He said the PTI wanted to provide the new government with time to restore judges in line with its commitment.

He said the political parties must understand that there could be no lasting democracy without the restoration of deposed judges. Mr Khan criticised nazims heading local councils, saying Musharraf used them blatantly to rig the elections to prolong his dictatorship.

He demanded former prime minister Shaukat Aziz be brought back to the country through Interpol and tried for the allegations being levelled against him by the PML-Q.

The LBA through a resolution demanded an immediate ouster of Gen Musharaf and asked the new government to strike down article 58 2(b) of the constitution.

The meeting also demanded revoking of article 58 2(b), and release and restoration of deposed judges.

PML-N Lawyers Forum Chief Wali Muhammad Khan moved the resolution. The house has also demanded release of Mr Ahsan and Ali Ahmad Kurd.

LBA President Anwar Kamal said his bar along with other lawyers’ bodies to carry forward the movement and achieve the independence of the judiciary.

Hamid Khan, Sarfraz Cheema, Hafiz Abdul Rahman Ansari, Rana Ahmad Saeed Raja Zulqurnain and Dr Zahid also spoke.

LHCBA Secretary Rana Asadullah Khan conducted the proceedings of the meeting while Vice President Mian Aslam and the Finance Secretary Syed Feroza Rubab attended it.