MARDAN, March 21: A leader of the People’s Lawyers Forum, Mushtaq Ahmad, has threatened to immolate himself if Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry is not reinstated forthwith.

He made the announcement during a protest rally held by lawyers here on Wednesday.

He said the action taken against the chief justice was based on mala fide intentions and the government was trying to tame the judiciary and prolong its unconstitutional rule.

The leader said the unscrupulous policies of the regime had brought the country’s institutions to the verge of collapse.

They praised the judges who had resigned in protest.

Our Haripur correspondent adds: The lawyer community here staged a rally, blocked the GT Road and boycotted the courts.