HYDERABAD, Sept 6: Lawyers boycotted courts and held demonstrations across the Sindh province on Thursday to protest against the re-election plans of President Gen Pervez Musharraf from the current assemblies.

In Hyderabad, lawyers and office-bearers of Hyderabad District and High Court Bars Associations staged a demonstration outside the civil court building. They vowed to continue their struggle against the present regime. Those who spoke on the occasion included District Bar Association (DBA) president Abdul Aziz Sheikh, vice-president Abdul Khaliq Leghari, Sindh Bar Council member Fazal Qadir Memon and others.

In Sanghar, the DBA boycotted court proceedings while lawyers hoisted black flags on the rooftop of their offices. DBA president Anwar Mehmood Nizamani said that President Musharraf was not acceptable with or without his uniform. He alleged that the general had destroyed the army as an institution. Taluka Bar Associations of Khipro, Tando Adam and Shahdadpur also boycotted court proceedings.

In Nawabshah, lawyers under the banner of the DBA also boycotted court proceedings.

In Mirpurkhas, lawyers observed a black day in Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts, and wore black armbands. Black flags were hoisted at bar association offices.

Lawyers in Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Kandiaro and Bhirya boycotted court proceedings. Rallies were taken out in Naushahro Feroze and Bhirya.

Lawyers boycotted court proceedings in Dadu, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi, Sehwan Sharif and Kotri towns. Scores of lawyers gathered outside the court complex in Dadu and took out a rally on main roads of the town and staged a demonstration at the local press club chanting anti-Musharraf slogans.

Speaking on the occasion, DBA president Dadu Shafi Mohammad Memon, barrister Pir Mujeebul Haq, Abdul Rasool Abbasi, Fazal Jamali and others said that Pakistan was facing a constitutional crisis and demanded President Musharraf to quit his army office.

In Jacobabad, lawyers boycotted court proceedings in protest.