LAHORE, July 20: Members of civil society and political parties, students and lawyers held a rally here on Sunday to show solidarity with the superior court judges who refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order on Nov 3, 2007.

The participants in the rally assembled at the FC College canal bridge and marched towards the residence of Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman, the son of former chief justice Hamoodur Rehman, in Shadman.

Appointment of Justice Rehman had been confirmed on Oct 31, 2007 when President Pervez Musharraf then as the army chief imposed emergency-plus for which he had no legal authority on Nov 2 and asked the superior courts’ judges to take oath under the PCO.

He was presented a certificate of appreciation from the citizens of Lahore for rejecting the ‘illegal’ emergency and refusing to take oath as a Lahore High Court judge.

Justice Hameed thanked the people and said he took the decision in accordance with the Constitution and his conscience.

Later, the rally headed towards the residence of deposed Supreme Court judge Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday in GOR-I.

Justice Ramday had headed the 13-member apex court bench which in a landmark verdict rejected the presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and reinstated him to his office after almost five months on July 20, 2007.

Talking to the media, Justice Ramday said the verdict had been appreciated by everyone across the globe. He said not a single flaw could be found in the decision, making the nation feel proud of its judiciary.

He said the encouragement being shown by every member of the nation was helping him and other deposed judges to endure with patience all the difficulties and ‘punishments’ they were currently undergoing.