June 01, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 26, 1429

TAXILA, May 31: The deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was given a rousing welcome upon his arrival at Taxila and Hassanabdal on Saturday.

Justice Chaudhry was on his way to Attock and Peshawar to address bars there. He did not address people at any place during his journey.

Earlier, a large number of political and rights activists, lawyers and civil society members received the chief justice at main Taxila chowk.

A large number of local leaders and political activists of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Awami National Party and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and lawyers greeted Justice Chaudhry.

People present on the occasion raised slogans demanding restoration of the deposed judges and vowed their struggle would continue until their objectives were achieved.

Lawyers’ leader Ali Ahmed Kurd while addressing on the occasion said that the restoration of the judges was “the demand of the people, lawyers and civil society”.

People showered rose-petals at Chaudhry’s vehicle and they raised anti-Musharraf slogans and waved victory signs. Punjab Police took strict security measures for the convoy of the sacked CJP. Traffic came to a standstill on GT road for around an hour.

APP adds: The lawyers community observed strike and boycotted the courts proceedings at Chakwal, Tallagang and Choa Sadan Shah to express solidarity with the deposed judges.

Addressing on the occasion, member Punjab Bar Council Hassan Raza Pasha said that the lawyers’ movement would continue till complete reinstatement of deposed judges, rule of law and independence of judiciary in the country.