March 08, 2008	Saturday	Safar 29, 1429

LAHORE, March 7: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz announced on Friday its support for the lawyers’ ‘black flag week’ and decided to observe a token hunger strike on March 12.

Party’s Punjab President Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa and Secretary-General Raja Ashfaq Sarwar told a press conference the PML-N had been supporting the lawyers’ movement since its inception on March 9. They said the party would continue backing lawyers for their “just cause” to get the judges deposed under the Nov 3 emergency reinstated.

They said all PML-N units and wings had been directed to hoist black flags on their homes, offices and vehicles and wear black armbands. The party will observe a token hunger strike in each district from 10am to 1pm on March 12.

They alleged the Presidency had become controversial and a hub of conspiracies because of meetings between President Pervez Musharraf and PML-Q leaders.

They alleged the MPs-elect who dissented from the former ruling party's leadership were also being threatened with dire consequences by the former rulers.

PML-N leaders criticised transfers and postings in the bureaucracy, saying officers were being “punished” for their failure to "deliver" in the Feb 18 vote.

Asked if party's ministers in the Punjab government would take oath of their office by Governor Khalid Maqbool, a representative of President Musharraf, they said lawyers were looking into the matter. However, there would be no problem if the oath was administered under the 1973 Constitution, they said.

About the formula settled between the PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party over the division of ministries in Punjab, they said it would be a reflection of what rule would be decided for the central government.

They said police from outside the deposed chief justice's house was removed under public pressure.

They said the PML-N enjoyed support of 134 MPAs in the Punjab Assembly. About the "rise and rise of the clerk" report, they said they knew Muhammad Khan Bhatti was a clerk from the Agriculture Department.