HYDERABAD, Nov 5: Over 30 lawyers were arrested in Sukkur, 17 in Larkana, four in Nawabshah, two in Mirpurkhas and four in Jacobabab in late night raids, which continued on Monday, as the lawyers boycotted courts across the province on a call given by the Sindh Bar Council (SBC) in protest against imposition of emergency, dismissal of Chief Justice of Pakistan and arrest of the president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

The SBC SBC has called for a three-day province-wide strike.

In Hyderabad, they boycotted courts, wore black armbands and hoisted a black flag on the bar room in Civil Courts’ building, which was surrounded by heavy contingents of paramilitary rangers and police.

They raised slogans against the emergency and demanded restoration of democratic rule in the country. A lawyer also cried ‘azaan’ as a mark of protest.

They held a general body meeting which condemned emergency and dismissal of Chief Justice and vowed to continue struggle till the restoration of democracy.

In Nawabshah, police arrested general secretary of People’s Lawyers Forum, Ayaz Ali Gopang after a raid on his house. They also raided the houses of Hassan Tariq and other lawyers.

Members of DBA staged a rally, which started from the bar room and ended at the main gate of the court’s new building within premises of session court.

They raised slogans against emergency and condemned Provisional Constitutional Order, detention of judges and arrest of their leaders.

Lawyers in Sanghar, Khipro, Tando Adam and Shahdadpur wore black armbands and hoisted black flag atop bar offices after boycotting court’s proceedings.

Security has been beefed at telephone exchanges, grid stations and bridges in the district.

In Khairpur, a large number of lawyers, under the aegis of Khairpur DBA and PLF, gathered in court premises and demanded immediate release of Aitazaz Ahsan and other lawyers.

In Shikarpur, Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Kandiaro and Bhirya lawyers boycotted court proceedings against the imposition of emergency, misbehaving with judges and lawyers and their arrests at Islamabad and other cities of the country.

In Thatta, paramilitary rangers cordoned off the building of sessions court and did not let any lawyer to come out on roads before they boycotted court proceedings. Rangers also entered the sessions’ court building and occupied the bar office for some time, which they vacated on the intervention of DPO.

In Badin, Dadu, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi, Sehwan, Kotri and Jamshoro lawyers boycotted courts. When lawyers in Dadu tried to bring out a rally police forced them to go back into the court complex.

Police arrested DBA president Shafi Mohammad Memon and Barrister Pir Mujeebul Haq.

In Mirpurkhas, DBA members boycotted court proceedings and staged a rally within the premises of district and sessions court. They raised slogans against the government.

The lawyer leaders likened the emergency to Martial Law and condemned dismissal of CJP and other judges.

Police arrested former DBA president Ali Hassan Chandio and PLF Mirpurkhas president Noor Ahmed Narejo during a late night crackdown against lawyers on Sunday.

Lawyers in Mithi and Umerkot also boycotted courts. In Jacobabad, police arrested four advocates Sardar Khan Lashari, Sharfuddin Soomro, Mohammad Azeem Soomro and Bilawal Buriro. In Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts lawyers boycotted courts and demanded reinstatement of all the judges of Supreme Court and High Courts.

When lawyers tried to stage a rally they were stopped by DPO and a heavy contingent of police from coming out of the court compound. Police then took away 17 lawyers including DBA president and general secretary.

The DSP said that the lawyers were detained under MPO. Police in Sukkur arrested more than 30 lawyers.