PESHAWAR, Nov 19: The members of the Khyber Union of Journalists and lawyers on Monday vowed that their peaceful struggle would continue for the restoration of the Constitution, reinstatement of the deposed superior court judges and removal of all curbs on the media.

The lawyers, after holding a protest meeting at the Peshawar High Court building, took out a procession led by Barrister Masood Kausar, Barrister Bacha, Fida Gul and Musarrat Hilali. The processionists reached the press club to express their solidarity with the community of journalists, struggling against the imposition of emergency rule and promulgation of draconian laws against the electronic and print media.

On their arrival at the press club, journalists welcomed the lawyers and thanked them for extending their support to their community.

Speaking on the occasion, Barrister Bacha criticised what he called the imposition of mini-martial law in the country. He said the legal fraternity was following in the footsteps of other forces struggling for the restoration of the Constitution and the rule of law.

He said it was the duty of all patriotic forces to come forward to save their motherland from the military dictator. He said Gen Pervez Musharraf had not only removed the honest and courageous judges of the superior courts and muzzled the media but also taken the country back into the dark ages.

He said on the one hand Gen Musharraf was boasting about enlightenment, while on the other his government was promoting political extremism, religious fanaticism and intolerance across the country and he himself had no regard for law and the Constitution.

Barrister Masood Kausar lauded the commitment and steadfastness of the journalists and said the legal fraternity would lead the democratic movement like a vanguard until the removal of military dictatorship.

KHUJ general-secretary Nasir Hussain thanked the lawyers for visiting the press club and demonstrating their support for the journalist community. He called upon all the political and democratic forces to join hands with lawyers and journalists in their struggle for restoration of democracy in Pakistan.