March 08, 2008	Saturday	Safar 29, 1429

RAWALPINDI, March 7: Lawy-ers have decided to hold a big rally starting from the house of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Aitzaz Ahsan and ending in front of the house of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Sunday.

“All preparations have been made by both the High Court Bar Association and Rawalpindi Bar Association to make the ‘black flag week’ a success.”

This was stated by HCBA president Sardar Asmatullah Advocate while addressing a press conference here on Friday. He said lawyers associations, traders, students, civil society, media and common citizens would observe the week.

The lawyers would completely boycott court proceedings at all levels from March 10 to 13, he added.

In an effort to sensitise the masses about the importance of an independent judiciary, the lawyers under the supervision of Aitzaz Ahsan will visit markets in twin cities and ask the business community to hoist black flags in protest against the unconstitutional removal of the judges and illegal detention of some of them, he added.

He said over 1,000 black flags had been prepared by traders in Rawalpindi which they would hoist at their business places to express solidarity with the lawyers.

HCBA vice-president Babar Ali, secretary general Malik Saddique Awan and joint secretary Farrukh Tahir were also present on the occasion. Mr Asmatullah said Ali Ahmad Kurd would also address the district bar on March 11.—A Reporter