PESHAWAR, June 12: The protesting lawyers on Thursday condemned the proposed amendment in the Finance Bill 2008 for increasing number of judges of the Supreme Court stating that the amendment was aimed at accommodating PCO-judges.

Amidst boycott of all the courts the lawyers completed all the arrangements and would leave on Friday morning for joining the long march.

A general body meeting of lawyers, chaired by Peshawar High Court Bar Association vice president Fida Gul, condemned the bombing of Mohmand Agency by Nato troops stating that they had constantly been violating the sovereignty of Pakistan.

Through a unanimously adopted resolution the meeting stated if army could not defend the country against US aggression it should handover the charge to Taliban who would safeguard the country as well as provide security to the army.

Through another resolution the meeting condemned the proposal to enhance the number of judges of the apex court from 16 to 29. The meeting resolved that lawyers would not accept PCO-judges as they had violated the constitution despite an order issued by the Supreme Court.

The participants of the meeting asked as to why PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was bent upon accommodating PCO-judges.

The meeting also passed another resolution and condemned NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani, who is chancellor of public sector universities in the province, as on his behalf the University of Peshawar administration had issued a notification asking teachers not to participate in the lawyers’ long march.

The participants demanded that the governor should be forthwith replaced as he was an agent of Pervez Musharraf and had been safeguarding his interests. They added that he should be replaced with a person suitable to the democratic institutions and to the provincial government so that the talks started by them with different elements for restoring peace could continue amicably.

The meeting was addressed by Fida Gul, PHCBA secretary general Essa Khan, Said Tahar Khan, Abdul Qadir Khattak, FM Sabir and Ghulam Nabi.

The speakers said that lawyers would fully participate in the long march, adding that masses would join them in large number.

Differences took place between the participants when the lawyers affiliated with Jamaat-i-Islami stated that the march from Peshawar would be led by Qazi Hussain Ahmad. Some of the lawyers attached with ANP opposed it and stated that the march would not be led by a political figure.

The meeting was followed by a protest demonstration outside the high court. They blocked Sher Shah Suri Road for quiet sometime and chanted slogans against President Pervez Musharraf.

Meanwhile, the premises of the high court were decorated with banners carrying slogans and messages in favour of the non-functional judges of the superior courts.

It is decided that the participants of the long march would set out for Islamabad Friday morning. The convoy would be joined by lawyers from Nowshera, Charssada, Mardan, Swat and Dir at Nowshera. Similarly, lawyers from Hazara would join the convoy at Hassanabdal. The participants from Southern districts would join the cavalcade at Tarnol from where they would move to join the main long march.

Meanwhile, workers of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf on Thursday took out a procession in favour of the lawyers’ long march and chanted slogans against President Pervez Musharraf.

They gathered outside Peshawar Press Club and raised slogans for independence of judiciary, and reinstatement of the deposed judges.

The PTI flags wielding workers also went in a procession from the press club to Peshawar High Court and extended full support to the lawyers’ struggle for rule of law in the country.

Our correspondent adds from Alpuri: Traders of the city on Thursday joined movement for the restoration of pre-Nov 3 judiciary as lawyers observed complete boycott and started long march towards Islamabad.

The protesting lawyers held a meeting at the barroom in Alpuri, headquarters of Shangla district, and vowed that their struggle would continue till the ouster of PCO-judges and restoration of the non-functional judges of the superior courts.

The traders in Alpuri bazaar pulled down shutters and joined lawyers in their protest. The markets remained closed during the lawyers’ meeting and demonstration.The participants of the demonstration were raising slogans in favour of non-functional Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. They were also carrying banners bearing different slogans and portraits of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Following the demonstration the lawyers set out for Islamabad to join the long march. The traders bid them farewell.