May 30, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429

RAWALPINDI, May 29: The Rawalpindi lawyers here on Thursday observed a complete boycott of the courts in the protest against delay in the restoration of deposed judges.

Speaking on the occasion, the lawyers’ leaders said both the High Court Bar (HCBA) and District Court Bar associations would fully participate in the convention to be addressed by deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in Peshawar and Attock.

The protesters also chanted anti-Musharraf and pro-deposed slogans and demanded immediate restoration of the deposed judges and resignation of President Musharraf.

The lawyers moved towards the Army house and on the road in front of the house, they were stopped by the city police officer and the district nazim near a police picket.

HCBA general secretary Siddique Awan told Dawn that the lawyers asked the judges not to sit in the court rooms as the all the lawyers had decided to boycott the proceedings at the courts. Due to strike, the litigants were given new dates in the cases.

The Rawalpindi Bar Association also held a general body meeting that was chaired by RBA President Sardar Tariq Masood. Speaking at the meeting, the lawyers demanded for immediate reinstatement of the judges.

They said the lawyers would march towards the Army House if it was vacated by the president till June 10. They also vowed to continue their struggle till the restoration of the deposed judges.

Meanwhile, a special judge of an anti-terrorism court put off the hearing of 21 cases against the former chief cleric of Lal Masjid Maulana Abdul Aziz till June 7 as charges against the accused could not be framed in the absence of the lawyers.