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GUJRANWALA, May 24: The district bar association completely boycotted the court proceedings here on Thursday and took out a rally jointly with opposition parties in protest against the killing of innocent people in Karachi and the alleged hooliganism of MQM workers.
Reports said lawyers gathered at bar room where leaders of PML-N, PPP, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) and MMA were also present. After marching along Sialkot and Kutchery roads, the protesters reached Gondlanwala Chowk where they staged a sit-in on GT Road for some time.
The lawyers were led by bar president Ilyas Rehan and secretary-general Amir Munir Bagri. Carrying banners and placards, they chanted slogans against the government and MQM. After marching on GT Road, the protesters reached Sheranwala Bagh where speakers expressed solidarity with the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP). The rally terminated at district courts.
Ii was a big procession in the city since the movement had been launched against the government.
SHEIKHUPURA: The Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Ferozewala and Sangla Hill bars observed a complete strike here on Thursday.
Bar members in their respective cities took out rallies and processions to express solidarity with the CJP.
At a meeting, Sheikhupura DBA president Nasrullah Wattoo termed ridiculous the statement of Gen Musharraf that army uniform is his skin. He said diplomats of the UK, Germany and other countries were severely criticising his stance on uniform. He asked the president to withdraw the reference against the CJP.
BAHAWALPUR: Lawyers and opposition parties jointly protested against the prevailing judicial crisis here on Thursday.
On the call of Punjab Bar Council, lawyers of district and high court bars stayed away from courts due to which litigants coming from far-flung areas had to face a great deal of inconvenience.
A protest meeting, chaired by bar president Yahya Khan, was held at district bar room. In addition to bar office-bearers, it was addressed by PML-N district president ex-MNA Mumtaz Ahmed Jajja, Punjab PML-N joint secretary Saood Majid Chaudhry and MMA deputy parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Dr Syed Waseam Akhtar.
They condemned the government for the Karachi massacre and demanded reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhat Muhammad Chaudhry and holding of fair and transparent general elections.
After the protest meeting, a joint rally was taken out from district bar room. Marching along main roads, the protesters came to Farid Gate where leaders delivered speeches. Thereafter, lawyers staged a sit-in at GPO Chowk, blocking traffic for some time.
A heavy police contingent was accompanying the protesters.
VEHARI: Lawyers of Vehari, Mailsi and Burewala suspended their court work here on Thursday.
Vehari lawyers took out a rally which ended at V-Chowk near General Bus Stand. On this occasion, bar president Rana Sajid, secretary-general Khizar Hayat and others said their struggle would continue till the independence of the judiciary in the country. Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully.
During the protest, police and other law-enforcement personnel were also present.
TOBA TEK SINGH: Lawyers did not turn up to courts here on Thursday and held a protest precession which started from District Courts Complex and ended at the same place after marching along Kamalia and Jhang roads.
Addressing the participants, lawyers office-bearers Rao Munawar Hayat, Mian Shoaib Muhammad, Zafar Chaudhry and Safdar Nasir announced that the protest campaign would continue till the reinstatement of CJP and ouster of Gen Musharraf.
Two lawyers Nazir Ahmad Raza and Sarwar Babar observed a token hunger strike as well.
