KARACHI, Sept 22: The leaders of the Karachi Bar Association on Saturday condemned the political parties which are supporting President Pervez Musharraf and said they would decide their strategy on Sept 24 on their support for the lawyers’ stand against the nomination of the president.

The KBA General-Secretary Naeem Qureshi, in his speech to a general body meeting at the Shuhda-i-Punjab Hall of the City Courts, said that all the associations of the legal fraternity had decided to maintain unity in their ranks and would take all possible steps for the protection of their colleagues.

He said a joint meeting of the Pakistan Bar Council, Sindh Bar Council, Sindh High Court Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association at the Sindh High Court bar room had demanded of the government to pay compensation to the heirs of slain lawyers Raja Riaz, Ateeq Ahmed Qadri and Pervez Kiani.

He expressed his dissatisfaction over the investigation of the murder cases of the two lawyers, saying that the KBA had already conveyed its reservations to the IGP, DIG and SSP concerned.

KBA Managing Committee member K.K. Javaid Khan recalled the services and sacrifices of the association for the independence of the judiciary and welfare of the association.

He said that the lawyers had rendered a great sacrifice for the rule of law and supremacy of the constitution and would do so in future. He said some lawyers in their ranks were bringing a bad name to the whole community.

Meanwhile, the lawyers associated with Sindh High Court Bar Association, Karachi Bar Association and Malir Bar Association in response to a call given by the Pakistan Bar Council will boycott the court proceedings on Sept 29, adds APP.

The General-Secretary of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, Munir-ur-Rahman, confirmed here on Saturday that the lawyers throughout the country would be on strike according to decision taken by Pakistan Bar Council.