August 29, 2008	Friday	Sha'aban 26, 1429

HYDERABAD, Aug 28: Asif Ali Zardari had ridiculed democracy by refusing to accept popular demand for reinstatement of judges and betrayed people’s trust, said a lawyer leader as his colleagues staged two-hour sit-ins across the province on Thursday in protest against delay in judges’ reinstatement.

The newly formed lawyers’ body, the National Coordination Council, had given call for the protest.

Lawyers in Hyderabad staged a two-hour sit-in outside the civil courts building on the Fatima Jinnah road after boycotting courts as per the council’s call and their weekly protest programme.

They were also joined by activists of Awami Tehrik, Pakistan Muslim League-N, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, Sindh United Party, Sunni Tehrik and Shia Ulema Council, causing suspension of traffic on the road.

The protesters demanded reinstatement of Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and capital punishment for former president Pervez Musharraf.

Lawyer leader Abdul Sattar Kazi said that his colleagues would never rest at peace until the reinstatement of Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. Asif Ali Zardari had ridiculed democracy by refusing to accept popular demand for reinstatement of judges and betrayed people’s trust, he said.

He said that Asif Zardari had got himself trapped after agreeing to take dictation from the USA and demanded reinstatement of deposed judges including Iftikhar Chaudhry immediately.

Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palejo said that politicians were fats losing people’s trust by failing to fulfil the promises they had made themselves. Political forces wanted nothing less that pure and unadulterated democracy and were gearing up for a fully fledged movement, he said.

PML-N’s Afzal Gujjar said that political activists were ready to lay down their dear lives in this struggle. Nawaz Sharif had preferred democracy over power and the party would not compromise on its commitment with lawyers, he said.

Hot Khan Gadhi and Nizamul Hyderi paid tributes to lawyers’ struggle saying that tyrannical forces were fighting with democratic forces.

In Jamshoro, lawyers led by District Bar Association President Mohammad G. Baloch brought out a rally and staged a sit-in at Al-Medina Chowk. Activists of Sindh United Party (SUP) also participated in the two-hour sit-in. In Mirpurkhas and Umerkot, lawyers boycotted courts and staged a sit- in on the M.A. Jinnah Road. The representatives of civil society and political parties also participated in the sit-in.

In Nawabshah, lawyers boycotted courts and held a sit-in in the court premises amid heavy contingents of police deployed outside the court.

In Naushahro Feroze, activists and supporters SUP led by the party’s general secretary Zain Shah staged a sit-in on Moro bypass, demanding restoration of Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhry and other judges.

They burnt tyres and blocked the highway from 12 noon to 2pm.

In Mithi, DBA members boycotted courts and held a rally, which terminated in a sit-in outside the press club.

In Sukkur, lawyers and members of civil society held a rally and staged a sit-in on Minara Road, demanding immediate restoration of deposed chief justice and other judges.

The protestors led by senior lawyer Bhajan Das Tejvani and Qurban Malano marched to Minara Road where they staged a sit-in for two hours, suspending traffic between Sukkur and Rohri.

The leaders criticised the government for showing reluctance in restoring deposed judges and especially Iftikhar Chaudhry. Restoration of judges without restoration of Iftikhar Chaudhary was meaningless they said.

Scores of SUP activists held a rally in Mirpur Mathelo, demanding immediate restoration of all the deposed judges including Iftikhar Chaudhary.