QUETTA, Sept 29: Bar associations and opposition parties criticised the government for using force against lawyers and media personnel outside the Election Commission office in Islamabad on Saturday. They vowed to continue their struggle for the restoration of civilian rule in the country.

Addressing a rally here, political leaders and lawyers’ representatives said that under the Constitution people had a right to protest against the policies of the government.

They said using state machinery against protesters was a clear violation of law. Leader of opposition in the Balochistan Assembly Kachkol Ali Baloch criticised the government for using force against lawyers and journalists. He said the action was obvious as the military-led general did not believe in fundamental rights of people, democracy and the Constitution.

He said the National Party was in contact with lawyers’ representatives and the components of the APDM to devise an effective strategy against the excesses. A joint statement issued by Balochistan Bar Association president Baz Mohammad Kakar and Balochistan High Court Bar Association president Shakeel Ahmed Hadi condemned the police action against lawyers and journalists. They announced that lawyers would boycott courts in Balochistan on Monday.

The lawyers’ representatives claimed that the government had failed to suppress their protest despite using force. They lauded the courage of lawyers and said the struggle for the independence of judiciary and restoration of democracy would be continued. Statements issued by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Balochistan National Party (Mengal), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Awami National Party, National Party and PML-N criticised the government for using force against protesters in Isalamabad.

Opposition parties vowed to continue the struggle against the Musharraf government.

Meanwhile, activists of the Pakistan People’s Party staged a demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club. They condemned police excesses against the protesters. Speakers claimed that the rally was aimed to express solidarity with journalists and lawyers.

PPP leaders, Syed Sadullah Shah and Mir Madad Jatak, said that the party was behind the struggle of lawyers for the independence of judiciary and freedom of press.