FAISALABAD, Oct 9 Lawyers, traders and industrialists have unanimously decided to start civil disobedience after October 25 if the government fails to approve a Lahore High Court bench for Faisalabad.

At a divisional convention organised by the district bar association at the main hall of the barroom on Saturday, the participants demanded that the provincial government move a summary for formation of the new bench to the governor.

The convention was addressed by bar president SM Iqbal, secretary Rana Ali Abbas, MNA Akram Ansari, Khalida Mansoor, MPA Rana Afzal, traders' association president Shahid Razzaq Saka and Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Sheikh Abdul Qayyum. They adopted a resolution stating that a high court bench was the fundamental right of more than 15 million people of Faisalabad division.

The bar president criticised the Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, saying that they were delaying formation of an LHC bench in Faisalabad. He said civil disobedience would be started here with the help of all segments of the society after October 25. He said people of the division would snatch their right in any case. He said lawyers would wear black armbands during court proceedings till formation of an LHC bench here. He said lawyers would go to any extent for their right even strikes, protest demonstrations and boycott of courts.

MNA Ansari said he was in support of the bench for Faisalabad and he would join hands with lawyers in his personal capacity.

After the convention, the participants took out a protest rally that started from the bar and concluded at the Clock Tower intersection. The participants, carrying black flags and wearing black armbands, raised slogans for formation of an LHC bench here.

Also, PML-N MNA Abid Sher Ali said at a press conference that two lawmakers from Faisalabad were serving as ministers in the Punjab set-up, but they were doing nothing to settle the issue of an LHC bench for Faisalabad. He said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif would shortly visit Faisalabad and hold a meeting with lawyers on this issue.