July 20, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 16, 1429

KARACHI, July 19: The legal fraternity on Saturday observed a complete boycott of court proceedings on the second consecutive day protesting the police action against the lawyers in front of the Sindh High Court on Thursday night.

The City Courts wore a deserted look as all its main entrances had been locked by the lawyers and even the undertrial prisoners were also not brought to the City Courts from various prisons due to the strike. All the commercial activities on the premises of the courts also remained suspended throughout the day.

It was the third day of the suspension of all legal proceedings as the lawyers had also observed a boycott on July 17 in response to a strike call given by the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) to protest against the ousting of judges.

Addressing a general body meeting of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) held at the Shuhada-i-Punjab Hall of the City Courts, lawyers condemned the police action against peaceful protesters and vowed to continue their ongoing struggle till the reinstatement of all the deposed judges.

They were of the view that the legal fraternity stood united across the country and would jointly take the movement forward in line with the decisions taken by the Pakistan Bar Council. The PBC is also set to announce its future course of action at the lawyers’ convention being held on July 19 in Lahore.

Following the general body meeting, the lawyers took out a protest rally within the premises of the City Courts against the police action.

Meanwhile, the court of additional district and sessions judge-IV, East, on Saturday adjourned till July 30 the hearing of a case pertaining to the gang-rape of an 18-year-old woman on the premises of Mazar-i-Quaid since the judge was on leave while the accused were also not brought to the City Courts due to the lawyers’ strike.