PESHAWAR, March 12: The legal community continued its anti-government protest here on Monday and boycotted proceedings of all courts. The protesting lawyers vowed to follow the decisions of the Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association under which a ‘black day’ would be observed on Tuesday.

A strike has also been called for the day.

Litigants suffered as they waited for their counsels who did not present themselves before any of the courts, including the high court and the district and sessions court.

A joint general body meeting of the Peshawar High Court and the Peshawar District Bar Association was held which bitterly criticised President Gen Pervez Musharraf and the army, stating that they had brought the country to the verge of disaster.

Our correspondent in Abbottabad adds: The lawyers’ community boycotted all court proceedings in Hazara Division on the call of the Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Despite heavy rain and chilly weather, lawyers held a protest rally which was led by Shad Mohammad Khan of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association, Abbottabad circuit bench, and Qazi Mohammad Arshad advocate, President of the District Bar Association.

Lawyers in Mansehra and Battagram also boycotted all court proceedings.