ATTOCK, Nov 4: Lawyers and opposition leaders have condemned the imposition of emergency in the country and demanded the reversal of what they called the unconstitutional decision and immediate restoration of the Constitution.

Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, the lawyers, Rana Afsar Ali Khan, president Attock District Bar Association Rana Afsar Ali Khan, general secretary Tahir Bukhari, Sheikh Ahsanuddin, Waqar Azeem, Chaudhry Akhtar and Sadaqat Ali Khan, and PML-N district president Mian Habibur Rehman; Syed Azmat Bukhari of the PPP and president Jamaat-i-Islami, Sardar Nasir Iqbal Khan condemned the imposition of emergency and demanded the immediate restoration of the Constitution.

They said military rule had tarnished the image of the country. The extra-constitutional action had put the integrity of the country at stake and made a mockery of democratic values, they maintained.

They said that back in 1999, Gen Musharraf had staged a coup to undo his lawful retirement, ordered by the then prime minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, and now he had once again rolled back the entire system to stop the Supreme Court’s expected decision against his election in military uniform. They said people had always rejected military rule and they would not accept this new facade of dictatorship.

They also criticised the removal of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, blocking the transmission of private television channels and the imposition of curbs on the print and electronic media.

They pledged that democratic forces and lawyers would oppose the suspension of fundamental rights of the people.

The general public shared the view that imposition of the emergency was an unfortunate development, which had pushed the country towards a “great tragedy.”

They, however, also held the politicians equally responsible for the prevailing crisis, as non-political powers were interfering in the country’s affairs while the politicians preferred personal interest over national interest, they regretted.

CPP: The chairman of the Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP), Engineer Jameel Malik, speaking at a news briefing, termed imposition of the emergency a conspiracy against the nation.

He said it was the need of the hour to come on the streets against dictators and called upon the people and democratic forces to resist the unconstitutional steps of the military regime.

He lauded the role of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, saying he had challenged the arbitrary and unlawful actions of the rulers and provided justice to the marginalized classes of society.

Our Correspondent from Murree adds: Opposition politicians and lawyers on Sunday condemned the imposition of state of emergency in the country, as local police made an abortive attempt to detain MPA Raja Shafqat Abbasi in Murree.

A police party raided Mr Abbasi’s house and took into custody his two brothers — Haleem Abbasi and Khalid Mehmood Abbasi — but failed to arrest the MPA as he was on a visit to his native village.

Talking to reporters, Mr Abbasi said President Pervez Musharraf had destroyed the country’s institutions, including judiciary.

According to him, after gaining independence through a hard struggle, the judiciary announced some independent decisions that went against the government.

“Pressurising the judiciary remained a common practice in this country,” he noted.

Mr Abbasi observed that President Musharraf harboured a grudge against the judiciary and attacked various institutions when he felt the threat of losing power.

He vowed that the lawyers would launch a movement not only for the independence of judiciary but also for the restoration of true democracy in the country.

The MPA appreciated Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and his colleagues for deciding against the extra constitutional act and not taking oath under the PCO.

“Gen Musharraf imposed martial law in 1999 for the first time and now once again after eight years of extra-constitutional rule to keep himself in power,” Mr Abbasi said.

PML-N Punjab general secretary Raja Ishfaq Sarwar, while talking to this reporter, condemned the imposition of emergency.

“President Musharraf’s lust for power has already thrown the country into turmoil and transformed it into a hub of terrorist activities,” he added.

Members and office-bearers of the Murree Bar Association also slammed the proclamation of emergency rule.

The association’s president, Advocate Nazir Abbasi, and other members condemned the arrest of lawyers’ leader Aitzaz Ahsan.

He said the Murree bar would observe a black day on Monday and hold a protest demonstration.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened in various parts of Murree town where army camps are located. Military vehicles are patrolling various bazaars including The Mall, Jhika Gali, Kuldanna, Lower Topa and Gharrial.

Lawyers’ strike: The District Bar Association (DBA) is observing a complete strike today to protest against imposition of emergency rule in the country by Gen Pervez Musharraf, forced removal of the chief justice of the supreme court and detention of leading lawyers.

President DBA Attock Rana Afsar Ali Khan while talking to mediapersons here on Sunday said call for the strike was given by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).