OKARA, March 25: Lawyers, civil society activists and political workers on Tuesday took out rallies across Punjab to celebrate the release of deposed judges and the election of Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani as prime minister.

In Okara, hundreds of lawyers took out a rally at the district courts complex to mark end to the house arrest of deposed judges. Led by bar president Chaudhry Sagheer and secretary Sajjad Hassan, the lawyers set off fireworks, raised slogans against President Pervez Musharraf and distributed sweets among people. They also remained absent from courts.

Separately, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers detonated fireworks and distributed sweets among people to mark Mr Gilani’s election as prime minister.

In Sialkot, lawyers, traders and civil society organisations came out on the roads to rejoice end to judges’ house arrest.

The rallies were also held in Daska, Sambrial, Pasrur, Badiana and Chawinda, where people thanked Mr Gilani and Nawaz Sharif for their efforts for judges’ release.

In Gujranwala, the district bar association celebrated release of deposed judges by distributing sweets. The lawyers gathered at the bar room and praised Mr Gilani for ordering judges’ release.

The lawyers, led by bar president Malik Shaukat Ali, also staged a rally and marched around the courts.

In Sheikhupura, the lawyers marked judges’ release by distributing sweets among people.