December 05, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 6, 1429

KARACHI, Dec 4: The legal fraternity on Thursday demanded the immediate resignation of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, Abdul Hameed Dogar, and called for filing of a reference against him for allegedly misusing his authority.

Leaders and members of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA), speaking at a general body meeting held on Thursday in the Shuhada-i-Punjab Hall of the City Courts, urged the competent authority to file a reference against the chief justice for allegedly taking undue advantage of his authority in getting his daughter’s marks increased to enable her to get admission to a medical college.

The meeting was held as part of the weekly protest against the Nov 3, 2007 proclamation of emergency and promulgation of the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) by the then president, Pervez Musharraf, and subsequent removal of many judges of superior courts, including chief justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Protesting lawyers boycotted legal proceedings at the City Courts, as well as the Malir District Courts.

The meeting reaffirmed the lawyers’ resolve to continue the movement till the reinstatement of all the deposed judges and restoration of the judiciary to its pre-Provisional Constitution Order position.

The meeting was told that the movement would pick up again after the Eid holidays.

Condemning the recent spate of violent incidents in Karachi, KBA leaders urged the government to expose and bring to book all those who were behind the conspiracy to trigger and foment ethnic tension in the city.

They said the chief justices of the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court should take suo motu notice of the incidents.

After the general body meeting, the participants took out a rally from the Karachi Bar Association office and during their march on M. A. Jinnah Road, they staged a sit-in to register their protest. Movement of vehicular traffic remained suspended during the sit-in.