HYDERABAD, Jan 31: Lawyers across Sindh observed Youm-i-Iftikhar on Thursday on the call of Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association to pay tribute to deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and demanded restoration of all deposed judges.

Protest rallies were taken out and token hunger strike camps were set up almost in every district of the province.

The leaders of lawyers led these protests while participants raised slogans against President Pervez Musharraf and in favour of Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

In Hyderabad district a large number of lawyers brought out a protest rally from civil courts building which culminated at press club after lawyers marched on Risala road. They boycotted court proceedings for full day as per their protest campaign schedule.

The lawyers were led by Hyderabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) president Abdul Sattar Kazi, general secretary Allah Bachayo Soomro, Hyderabad District Bar Association vice-president Abdul Khaliq Leghari and secretary Noorul Haq Qureshi.

They raised full throated slogans in support of Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Chanting slogan of “Hai Chief Hamara Iftikhar” (chief justice is our pride) the lawyers also raised slogans against President Pervez Musharraf.

After holding a protest demonstration outside the local press club they returned to civil courts building where they established a Justice Iftikhar corner.

They placed his portrait and showered flowers. Amidst clapping for a considerable time they demanded reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar and other deposed judges.

Local leaders of different political parties, Abdul Waheed Qureshi, Shaikh Shaukat and Afzal Gujjar and others participated in their protest rally.

In Khairpur, lawyers under the aegis of the District Bar Association observed Youm-i-Iftikhar and boycotted court proceedings.

A large number of lawyers led by DBA general secretary Abdul Qayoom Shaikh staged a demonstration outside DBA office and raised slogans in favour of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhry.

Lawyers in Pir Jo Goth, Gambat, Thari Mirwah also boycotted court proceedings.

In Sanghar, lawyers at district and taluka bar associations completely boycotted the court proceedings. They wore black armbands and hoisted black flags.

Lawyers of Shikarpur boycotted courts to protest against the removal of Chief Justice and other judges of the supreme and high courts.

They demanded reinstatement of the judges and withdrawal of their house arrest orders.

In Mirpurkhas, lawyers took out a rally from the bar room to protest against the detention of judges and for the acceptance of their demands.

Carrying banners and placards, they raised slogans against the government and demanded immediate release of detained judges and lawyers.

Lawyers also boycotted courts in Digri, Kot Ghulam Mohammad and other talukas.

Lawyers of Umerkot also observed Youm-i-Iftikhar and boycotted court proceedings and took out rally.

They boycotted courts in Pithoro, Samaro and Kunri talukas.

In Thatta, lawyers observed complete boycott as no lawyer appeared before any court.

Later, lawyers took out a rally which was also attended by the representatives of civil society. The rally culminated at press club.

In Naushahro Feroze, lawyers boycotted court proceedings and took out a rally from court building and reached press club where they staged a demonstration.

Lawyers boycotted court proceedings in Dadu, Mehar, Johi, Sehwan and Kotri.

Led by Dadu DBA president Shafi Mohammad Memon, they also staged protest in the court complex. Police surrounded the gates of court complex and did not allow the lawyers to come on roads.

In Kotri town, lawyers led by Riazat Sahir took out a rally from bar office to main chowk.

In Nawabshah, lawyers boycotted court proceedings and took out a rally led by president DBA, Ali Mohammad Dahiri. The lawyers marched on main roads of the city and staged demonstration outside press club.