HYDERABAD, March 25: Jubilant and excited lawyers of the city danced on main roads suspending their appearances before the courts in order to celebrate release of deposed judges of superior courts by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani soon after his election as leader of the house. They came out of civil courts building twice to hail the decision of releasing judges.

Dancing on drumbeat the overjoyed lawyers hailed the decision. They first marched from civil courts to Hyder chowk and then they came out on roads to reach press club while dancing on tunes of folk songs.

Speaking on the occasion President of the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) Hyderabad, Abdul Sattar Kazi, said that it was indeed a happy occasion as the judges were released but their destination was still away. He said that it was nice to see deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry waiving to crowd from the balcony of his house. “We want to see the judges presiding over their courts in the courtroom”, he declared.

Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA) Chaudhry Bashir Gujjar, also welcomed the release but warned in the same breath that lawyers wouldn’t take things lying down if the judges were not reinstated by the present government. “We may direct our struggle even against present government if judges are not reinstated”, said Gujjar, who himself is a PPP activist and elected with the support of PPP-backed lawyers.

He added that it was really appreciable that premier Gilani ordered release of judges soon after being elected as leader of the house.

Meanwhile, a group of lawyers including Ayaz Latif Palijo and Yusuf Leghari have begun the countdown of 30-days time limit under which judges are to be reinstated as per text of Murree declaration, signed by Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of PPP and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif. “From today onwards we have begun the countdown.”

In Mirpurkhas, the District Bar Association members distributed sweets among lawyers. DBA president Salahuddin Panhwar said that their struggle had not ended as it would continue till judges of Supreme Court were restored.

He termed the decision of Prime Minister Gilani bold and hoped that present government would fulfil promises including restoration of all deposed judges of apex court.

In Jacobabad, lawyers took out a big rally to welcome release of deposed judges. They distributed sweets among lawyers in court premises and raised slogans in favour of Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other judges.

Haji Anwar Ali Jakhrani, Abdul Sattar Attar, Ahmed Ansari, Misri Khan and others, while speaking on the occasion, said that independence of judiciary was must for a democratic society.