November 28, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 29, 1429

PESHAWAR, Nov 27: A fresh peaceful lawyers' movement would be launched from Peshawar after Eidul Azha, said Supreme Court Bar Association president Ali Ahmad Kurd here on Thursday for what he termed attainment of the desired goals.

“Our onslaught on Islamabad could not be stopped by anyone and hundreds of thousands of people would gather outside the parliament,” Mr Kurd said while addressing the joint general body meeting of Peshawar High Court Bar Association and Peshawar District Bar Association amid boycott of the courts by the lawyers.

He said that the lawyers’ movement was not against an individual rather it was started to end the injustice prevalent in the country since its creation.

Mr Kurd said that the lawyers’ movement was non-violent and civilised and during more than a year no public property was harmed despite holding massive protest demonstrations and rallies. “This movement is of the masses and it could not be sabotaged by the vested interest elements,” he added.

This movement, he said, had even inspired people across the world which was evident from the respect extended to Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry during his visit to the United States. “Justice Chaudhry is the chief justice of the masses and due to same reason he has earned so much respect of the people which is unmatched in the history of the country,” Mr Kurd said.

The lawyers’ leader announced that they would award rousing welcome to Justice Chaudhry on his return from the USA.

He said that Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar was the major hurdle in the way of restoration of pre-Nov 3 judiciary. He regretted that Justice Dogar misused his office by increasing marks of his daughter and had thus usurped the right of a deserving student.Mr Kurd alleged that Justice Dogar had also tried to influence the SCBA polls and had also established a cell at his office for monitoring the polls. “Despite all his efforts I emerged victorious in the polls due to efforts of the lawyers,” he added.

He also criticised some members of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) stating that they had been trying to create rifts among the lawyers. “If in future the bar council suspends licence or membership of any member we will launch movement for their removal,” he added.

PHCBA president Abdul Lateef Afridi expressed concern over precarious law and order situation in the tribal areas and NWFP.

He alleged that the government and security forces had been patronising militancy and were involved in killing thousands of innocent people.

“The inhabitants of Swat, Bajaur and other areas have been suffering from different mental disorders owing to continuous military operations,” he said adding the security forces had not been playing effective role in curbing militancy resulting in displacement of about 700,000 people from those areas.

He stated that their movement for restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges would continue till accomplishment of their objectives.

Mr Afridi condemned the proposed registration of Pakhtuns in Karachi stating that it was a conspiracy to disintegrate the country.

PHCBA secretary general Mohammad Essa Khan said that legal fraternity across the world had been bestowing different honors on Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry which proved that he was considered chief justice even abroad.

He added that the lawyers would never accept Justice Dogar as Chief Justice of Pakistan.

The meeting was also addressed by Balochistan Bar Association president Haji Shakeel Ahmad, its general secretary Tariq shah, SCBA additional secretary Zulfiqar Khalid, PHCBA vice president Fida Gul, PDBA president Fazlur Rehman Khan and its secretary general Yasir Khattak.