July 18, 2008	Friday	Rajab 14, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 17: Deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry visited District Court’s complex on Thursday and laid a floral wreath at the spot where a lawyers’ convention in his support was blasted by a bomb that killed 18 lawyers and political workers this day last year.

The carnage had visited the capital on July 17 when a suicide bomber had blown him up outside the venue of the district bar council’s convention, killing those waiting for the arrival of the deposed chief justice who was to address the convention.

More than 50 people were injured in the incident and a number of them lost their limbs. Among the wounded included women political activists and police personnel performing duties at the convention.

Most prominent among badly injured was Dr Israr Shah of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who lost both of his legs in the blast.

A commemorative plaque to pay tributes to the killed has also been built at the spot. The plaque “Yadgar-e-Shuhudai Tehrik-e-Bahali Adliya” was built by a local lawyer that has inscription of the names of those who sacrificed their lives on the day. Flowers, floral wreaths, candles and lamps adored the monument.

The deposed CJ, who preferred not to speak, quietly laid the wreath at the monument and briefly stayed to participate in offering Fateha for the eternal peace of those who lost their lives.

Prayers were also offered for the sovereignty of the country and success of the movement for the restoration of the deposed judges, sent home by President Pervez Musharraf in his capacity as the then army chief while proclaiming state of emergency rule on November 3 last year. Quran Khawani was also arranged by the district bar on the occasion.

“The chief justice (deposed) has shown a good gesture by himself attending the ceremony to pay homage and respect to those who were killed in the incident,” said advocate Zulfikar Khalid Maluka, while talking to Dawn.

Mr Zahid, one of the organisers of the event, said the deposed CJ had visited the place in his personal capacity and speech by him was not part of the ceremony.

Apart from the lawyers, the thinly attended ceremony was also participated by the civil society representatives and the relatives of those who had lost their dear ones.

Earlier, before the arrival of the deposed CJ, the participants demanded of the PPP-led coalition government to immediately impeach President Pervez Musharraf and restore the pre-emergency judiciary.