LAHORE, Oct 10: The Pakistan Bar Council on Monday withdrew its call for observing Oct 12 as a countrywide black day in protest against the military takeover six years ago.

PBC vice-chairman Hafiz Abdur Rehman Ansari said at a news conference the decision to withdraw the call was taken in view of the massive earthquake which killed thousands of people in Kashmir and other parts of Pakistan.

The PBC has now appealed to bar councils and associations across the country to hold meetings on Oct 12 to condole the deaths and express sympathy and solidarity with their families.

It also appealed to the bars to establish funds for the quake victims.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court Bar Association has convened on Tuesday a meeting to discuss the establishment of a special fund for the victims and their families.

The People’s Lawyers Forum also cancelled the holding of a seminar on democracy and its leader Mian Jahangir said here on Monday that the expenditure for the seminar would now be donated for the assistance of the quake victims.