KARACHI, June 7: The People’s Movement for Justice — a group of various trade unions, NGOs, civil society organisations and leftist activists — will organise a rally on Saturday to denounce terrorism and support the independence of the judiciary.

According to Farid Awan and Asad Iqbal Butt, Convener and Secretary of the group, the participants of the rally would march at 5pm from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club.

“We encourage lawyers, journalists, teachers, workers, students, NGOs, trade unionists and all those people who are against the atrocious measures of the present regime to join us in the rally,” said Mr Butt.

He said the group, which was formed on May 28, primarily wanted to support the lawyers’ movement for the independence of the judiciary as it required solidarity from civil society at large.

“Today the people are faced with a situation where the demands for the rule of law and justice are condemned as threats to national sovereignty. The reference against the chief justice has led to a national movement and the military rulers — using state apparatus — are trying to suppress this uproar against injustice,” said Mr Awan.

According to him, Pakistan was facing a severe political and economic crisis.

“Those under the yoke of the ruling class are fed up with the extreme poverty, price hike, unemployment, lawlessness and authoritarianism. But the rulers protect their own class interests and continue to serve the interests of the imperialist forces,” he said.

“We know it is necessary not to be neutral when faced with suppression and terror. We are with the oppressed people and nations. We vow to continue the struggle of the May 12 martyrs,” said Mr Butt.

He said the People’s Movement would use the media, publish leaflets and brochures, organise seminars, rallies and demonstrations to mobilise action for the independence of the judiciary and the media, supremacy of the constitution, social, political and economic justice, an end to dictatorship, resistance to imperialism and for genuine democracy.