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July 25, 2008	Friday	Rajab 21, 1429

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KARACHI, July 24: The legal fraternity on Thursday boycotted legal proceedings at the City Courts and District Courts Malir in response to a strike call given by the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) to protest against the ousting of judges.

The lawyers took out a rally from the Karachi Bar Association’s office and staged a sit-in at M.A. Jinnah Road, later dispersing peacefully.

Heavy contingents of police were deployed around the City Courts since the morning. Meanwhile, the police scuffled with the lawyers when some emotionally-charged lawyers forced the courts staff to shut down the courtrooms in Block F (District East) and shattered the window-panes.

Later, the police had to cordon off the KBA building in order to arrest those lawyers reportedly responsible for harassing the courts staff and shattering window-panes. However, those responsible for the damage managed to escape through the rear doors of the City Courts.

KBA general-secretary Naeem Qureshi negotiated with the police officials and said the Karachi Bar would take action against the errant lawyers. He termed the ruckus “an attempt to derail the lawyers’ ongoing movement.”

Though the undertrial prisoners were brought to the police lock-up in the City Courts from different prisons, their cases could not be heard due to the strike.

They were taken back to their respective prisons. However, the judges remained in their chambers. The business activities in the premises of the City Courts also remained thin due to the strike.

Meanwhile, the lawyers, while speaking at a general body meeting of the KBA held in the Shuhada-i-Punjab Hall of the City Courts, condemned the reported decision of some deposed judges of the Sindh and Lahore high courts to take a fresh oath. They urged the judges to remain committed to the cause of an independent judiciary.

The speakers were of the view that most lawyers were appearing before the ‘PCO judges’ in the Sindh High Court. They urged the Sindh High Court Bar Association to ensure complete boycott of the SHC on every Thursday.

Naeem Qureshi offered the assistance of the Karachi Bar to implement the decision of the PBC of boycotting the high court every Thursday.

Sindh Bar Council member Salahuddin Gandapur said that the lawyers’ ongoing struggle was not for any particular judges, but for the rule of law and independence of the judiciary, adding that those judges who did not take oath under the 2007 PCO were the heroes of movement, but if a few of them were thinking of taking a fresh oath they would be considered PCO judges.

He said the legal fraternity were still very optimistic and would continue the struggle till the restoration of the pre-PCO judiciary.

Pakistan Bar Council member Yaseen Azad said that the lawyers’ community was united across the country, adding that there were only minor differences in points of view. He said that it would be the last chance for the lawyers and the people of Pakistan to establish an independent judiciary in the country.

He said a major political party of the ruling coalition had supported the lawyers’ movement before coming to power but had now changed its stance on the reinstatement of deposed judges. “But we will force that party to honour its commitment and restore the judiciary to its Nov 2 position,” he said.

Naeem Qureshi and Sardar Zulfiqar said that about 99 per cent of lawyers were appearing before the SHC every Thursday, adding that the court boycott should be ensured in accordance with the PBC decision.

Mr Qureshi asked that Sindh high court, Malir and Karachi bars to send a delegation of lawyers to those deposed judges who were considering taking a fresh oath, in order to convince them not to do so.