RAWALPINDI, March 26: The opposition parties on the call of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Monday held protest rallies in Rawalpindi and other Potohar districts against the suspension of the chief justice of Pakistan.

They vowed to support the lawyers in their struggle for the independence of the judiciary, our correspondents from Chakwal, Taxila and Attock report.

A big rally was held outside the district courts in Rawalpindi, where leaders of the PPP, PML-N and the MMA condemned President Musharraf’s action against Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and termed it an assault on the independence of the judiciary.

Standing right under a huge billboard with the portraits of President Musharraf and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, who will inaugurate the Leh Expressway project on Tuesday, PPP secretary-general Jehangir Badar said the despotic ruler had first attacked the constitution and then parliament. He said the judiciary and media were Musharraf’s latest victims besides harassment of political workers who raised voice against his unjust decision.

He said they would continue to support the lawyers till the country’s top adjudicator was restored to his post.

PPP Parliamentarians secretary-general Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said the chief justice had made history by not bowing to the pressure of the president. He stood up against the dictator and the whole nation now stands by him, Mr Ashraf said. He made clear that all opposition parties were united and supported the struggle of the lawyers for the independence of judiciary.

Speaking on the occasion, PML-N leaders Sardar Naseem, MPAs Malik Abrar and Chaudhry Ayaz also vowed to support the lawyers community in their struggle. They criticised the president’s decision to make the CJ non-functional.

PML-N leader Zafar Ali Shah, MMA’s Hafiz Hussain Ahmed and Zamurad Khan of the PPP were also present.

Earlier, a large number of PPP, PML-N, MMA and Awami National Party workers along with a lawyers gathered on the G.T. Road and chanted anti-government slogans. Some of the lawyers later went back to the court premises leaving the political activists behind who blocked the road for over two hours.

Heavy contingents of police under the supervision of the DPO were deployed to tackle any untoward incident. Some personnel of law-enforcement agencies were making video recordings of the rally. The protesters in the end dispersed peacefully.

CHAKWAL: In Chakwal, the opposition parties held a big rally which started from Phaun Chowk and after passing through various roads the processionists returned to the same place and dispersed.

The rally, which was also supported by the MMA, was led by former MPA Chaudhry Ayaz Amir, former MNA Sardar Mumtaz Tamman, PPP Chakwal president Sardar Nawab Khan, PML-N’s Ziaul Hassan Zaidi Advocate and MMA district president Sahibzada Abdul Quddoos Naqshbandi.

The protesters were carrying banners and placards and were chanting slogans like “Go Musharraf go.”

Earlier, a protest meeting was held at the residence of Ayaz Amir which was addressed by Ejaz Mughal, Sardar Nawab Khan, Ayaz Amir and Abdul Quddoos Naqshbandi.

They condemned the arrest of political workers and said the use of state machinery against the political opponents showed the weakness of the government.

A complete strike was observed by the lawyers community who also held rallies in various parts of the district.

TAXILA: The lawyers community of Taxila and Wah Cantonment, on the call of the Punjab Bar Council, boycotted court proceedings and observed strike to protest the presidential reference against the chief justice of Pakistan.

However, no protest call was given by the ARD as the traders had mostly disassociated themselves from the strike.

Lawyers led by Taxila Bar Association president Muneer Khan held a rally against the sacking of the CJ.