PESHAWAR, Nov 17: About 72 lawyers were released after the provincial government withdrew their detention order under the Maintenance of Public Order.

Most lawyers were released between Friday night and Saturday morning from prisons in Haripur and D.I. Khan.

Meanwhile, the protesting lawyers named a newly constructed intersection near the NWFP Assembly as “Justice Square” and placed bouquets and flowers there. They spray painted the words “Justice Square” on a board. Later, police took away the board.

The protesters vowed that their movement would continue till the ouster of General Musharraf and restoration of judges of superior courts.

An official of the home department informed that the government had issued orders regarding withdrawal of detention orders against lawyers hailing from different areas, including Peshawar, Haripur, Abbotabad, Swabi and Mardan.

A protest meeting was held on the premises of the high court, which was attended by lawyers in large numbers. The meeting was chaired by the Pakistan Bar Council executive committee chairman Qazi Mohammad Anwer, who was also released on Friday night.

Mr Anwer said the boycott of superior courts would continue till their goals were achieved. He added that despite the use of brute force against lawyers, civil society and political workers they would not be cowed down.

“The lawyers’ community is completely united and they have been fighting the battle for the survival of Pakistan,” he said.

The meeting was followed by a demonstration.

Scores of lawyers continued their hunger strike on Saturday at a camp set up in the high court.

Meeting Held: The NWFP Bar Council on Saturday announced observing protest day on Nov 19 for expressing solidarity with the media.