September 24, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 23, 1429

ATTOCK, Sept 23: The anti-corruption department Attock on Tuesday arrested red-handed two revenue officials including a patwari of Jand tehsil on the charge of taking Rs40,000 as bribe from a citizen for registration of a piece of land.

Abdul Razzak filed a complaint with the circle officer of the anti-corruption department that he had purchased a piece of land at Domial village of Jand tehsil but Patwari Mohammad Ejaz was demanding Rs85,000 for registration of the land. He said later the patwari had brought down the amount to Rs40,000.

The anti-corruption team led by Mohammad Fazal Raja raided the Patwar office in the village under the supervision of judicial magistrate Mohammad Aslam Gondal and recovered the signed currency notes of Rs40,000 from the possession of the patwari which the complainant had paid to him just before the raid. The team also arrested the patwari’s assistant Tanveer Iqbal and registered a case against them.

Youm-i-Iftikhar observed: Lawyers observed ‘Youm-i-Iftkihar’ here on Tuesday, demanding the PPP-led government to reinstate all the deposed judges including Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

At a meeting of the District Bar Association, the lawyers criticised the government for backtracking from the “promise’ of restoring the judges according to the Murree declaration.

They vowed to continue the struggle for the reinstatement of the judges and supremacy of the rule of law.

They claimed that ouster of former president Pervez Musharraf was made possible because of their movement. The lawyers said reinstatement of the judges was imperative for strengthening the parliament and democracy.

The lawyers also criticised restoration of some of the deposed judges under fresh oath and said it was an attempt on the part of government to undermine the lawyers’ movement.

On the occasion, they condemned the military action in Swat, Bajaur and others tribal areas of NWFP.

At the end of the meeting, the DBA adopted various resolutions reposing confidence in Iftikhar Chaudhry and demanding empowerment of the Parliament and repeal of 17th Amendment.

Our Correspondent from Taxila adds: In connection with ‘Youm-i-Iftikhar’, lawyers of Taxila and Wah Cantonment observed complete boycott of the courts on Tuesday.

Speaking at a meeting of the Taxila Bar Association (TBA), the lawyers rejected the restoration the deposed judges without reinstatement of Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Participants of the meeting pledged to render all sacrifices for the restoration of the deposed judges.

The meeting through a unanimous resolution named the Taxila Bar Room as ‘Awan-e-Iftikhar’.