ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association Thursday termed the lawyers gathering addressed by President Musharraf in Rawalpindi on Wednesday as a drama and mockery to give impression to the people that the lawyers were with the military junta.

In a joint statement Pakistan Bar Council Vice-Chairman Rasheed A. Rizvi and Supreme Court Bar Association President Justice (retired) Tariq Mehmood said those persons who were present on the occasion were not the elected representatives of the lawyers community but advocates belonging to the offices of attorney-general and advocates-general of Punjab.

In addition, there were those lawyers who are aspirants of government and judiciary jobs, both the leaders of the premier bodies of the lawyers said.

They stated that the lawyers community had categorically rejected the military takeover in1999, legitimacy extended to military rule by the Supreme Court, election of Gen Musharraf as president through referendum, horse trading in the assemblies, holding of two offices by Gen Musharraf and all other unconstitutional acts of the regime.

They vowed to continue struggle for the independence of judiciary, rule of law and restoration of constitutional rule.-PPI