LAHORE, May 2: Scores of lawyers, rights and political activists rallied in sweltering heat on The Mall on Wednesday against the `suspension’ of Chief Justice of Pakistan, although the number of participants apparently decreased a bit as compared to the last show.

The last rally on April 24 had more participation and more political colour with a number of politicians in the lead.

Dozens of activists from the PPP, PML-N, MMA and students wing of Jamaat-i-Islami showed up to support the lawyers, but there was no prominent leader from their parties except for Lahore PPP president Azizur Rehman Chan and MPA Samiullah Khan.

The Wednesday’s rally — the fifth in a series of protest on the occasion of each hearing into the reference against Justice Chaudhry – however drew more support from passers-by and shopkeepers, who showered rose petals on the protesting lawyers. The passers-by also joined the lawyers’ chorus of `Go Musharraf Go’ and `No Musharraf No’. Some of the protesters carrying portraits of Justice Chaudhry also chanted slogans in his favour.

Activists of Labour Party Pakistan, Khaksar Tehrik, Women Action Forum, All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, Pakistan Qaumi Party and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Istaklal also joined the demonstration.

A rally of lawyers, led by Lahore Bar Association, was taken out from the Awan-i-Adl, which joined another rally at GPO Chowk taken out from the Lahore High Court. From here, they marched up to the Faisal Chowk in front of Punjab Assembly building.

Scores of riot police deployed outside the LHC and en route the rally did not intervene at any stage.

The protesters stayed at Faisal Chowk for about 30 minutes before returning to the high court peacefully.

Addressing the protesters, LHC bar president Ahsan Bhoon said the May 5 reception to the CJP in the city would be `last nail in the coffin of rulers.’ He said the people of Lahore would give their verdict in the reception against President Musharraf.

“Dictatorship is the mother of all evils, and its days are numbered now,” Mr Bhoon said.

He urged the lawyers to remain united in the ongoing campaign.

The Labour Party and tenants of Evacuee Trust Property Board had arranged two trucks carrying water tanks for protesters.

The more than one hour presence of protesters on The Mall badly affected traffic flow on the road and its adjoining arteries. It also affected traffic on Ferozpur Road, Jail Road and Lower Mall. Motorists experienced a great deal of inconvenience when they had to endure hours long traffic jams in sweltering heat.