HYDERABAD, Nov 13: Lawyers partially boycotted courts on Thursday in response to a call for protest given by the National Coordination Council to press the government for the reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other deposed judges.

The boycott in high and sessions courts was partial because lawyers were now divided over the issue of reinstatement of judges.

Lawyers led by the president of the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) Abdul Sattar Kazi respond to the boycott call while those affili-ated with the PPP attend courts in line with the policies of their party.

A press release issued by the Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA) said that lawyers held a general body meeting in the bar office and then took out a rally in the sessions court’s premises, which terminated at the press club.

Mr Kazi said at the meeting that the government had been dilly-dallying on the reinstatement of judges for the past nine months, which was contrary to its commitment made in Murree declaration.

He said that lawyers would continue their struggle in a peaceful manner and the government should also refrain from sabotaging the struggle.