KARACHI, May 1: Following the call of Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association, lawyers in Sindh High Court, the City Courts, Special Courts, Anti-Terrorism Courts, Accountability Courts and Malir district courts will observe a strike today (Wednesday).

Lawyers have decided to stay away from the court proceedings on the occasion of the 9th hearing of the presidential reference filed against the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in Islamabad.

They have decided to continue observing the token hunger strike and hold general body meetings of their respective bar associations in the morning to finalise the mode of protest.

It was learnt that the Karachi Bar Association members would take out a rally, led by Iftikhar Javed Qazi, Naeem Qureshi and other senior lawyers, from City Courts, while the members of Sindh High Court Bar Association and Malir Bar Association would join the rally at the High Court building.

Political and religious parties, trade unions, NGOs and student organisations were also invited to join the rally and take part in the campaign for the independence of the judiciary and reinstatement of the CJP. The decision was taken when the KBA general body meeting endorsed the decision of KBA managing committee about participation of political parties in their rallies.

Meanwhile, the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy has decided to stage a protest demonstration at Lea Market at 3pm against the suspension of chief justice.

The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal will hold a protest demonstration at Regal Chowk at 5pm.