November 21, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 22, 1429

LAHORE, Nov 20: While the lawyers reflected upon ways to reinvigorate their campaign for the restoration of the judges, the largest party in Punjab definitely had a change of heart as its parliamentarians and workers reappeared at the weekly protest rally.

Several lawyers had been terming the PML-N’s absence from the rallies a huge contradiction between the party’s word and action. Others felt that the absence of the PML-N had taken the punch out of the rallies. “The real muscle of the campaign are the young lawyers,” Lahore High Court Bar Association President Anwar Kamal, however, believe.

In the LHCBA general house meeting, Mr Kamal proposed mobilising the ordinary people to broaden the canvas of the movement. On the call of the National Coordination Council, every Thursday the LHCBA and Lahore Bar Association (LBA) take out protest rallies and join each other in front of the Lahore High Court to proceed together to the Charing Cross. Hundreds of lawyers came out after attending their general house meetings and marched on The Mall for pressing the government to restore Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Among other activists were workers of Jamat-i-Islami, Khaksar Tehrik, Tehrik-i-Insaf, Awami People’s Party, Jamiat Ulema Pakistan and Pakhtoon Khawa Milli Awami Party. However, the PML-N activists, led by MPAs Mian Nuaman and Mian Mohsin Latif, were prominent. Tehrik-i-Insaaf brought a truck, decorated with party flags and banners, and used it as a platform to air slogans against the government and in the favour of sacked judges. Two protesters of little known ‘Tehrik Ghulaman Khuda’ also participated in the rally wearing shrouds inscribed with slogans that they were ready to sacrifice their lives for the restoration of the deposed judges.

A group of highly-charged lawyers also chanted slogans against Lahore High Court chief justice at judges’ gate of the LHC.

At the Charing Cross, the lawyers set fire to a US flag to protest against operations in northern areas of the country. After staying there for half an hour, the protesters dispersed peacefully.

Earlier, LHCBA President Anwar Kamal said the (deposed) chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry would be invited to Lahore when he returns from his tour abroad. He said the most crucial aspect of the movement pertained to taking it forward and making it more effective.The LHCBA president said it was imperative to mobilise and involve in the campaign the civil society and the man on the street by informing them about the importance of the objective of the movement.

“Nothing would work in this country if it does not have the supremacy of law,” Mr Kamal said. He added the there might be a few changes to the ongoing campaign but it could not cease to exist.

“Not even the Pakistan Bar Council could interfere with the campaign,” he said, referring to the strong division within the lawyers’ top body being dominated by the PPP lawyers at the moment. “We have a just cause that is not tainted with any political ambition or expediency,” he added.

Former Senator Malik Rafique Rijwana said the purpose of the lawyers’ movement was not restoration of the deposed chief justice alone but establishment of a system. He said the lawyers need to rethink their strategy in order to take the campaign to a new level.

He proposed putting pressure on the parliament, which, he said, was working under the dictates of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Supreme Court Bar Association executive committee member Tariq Asad said the lawyers should stop the judges, who took oath under the Provisional Constitution Order, from entering courtrooms.