KARACHI, July 24: Supreme Court Bar Association President Munir A. Malik on Tuesday re-iterated the pledge that the legal fraternity would not rest until democracy was established in the country.

Speaking at a general body meeting of the Malir Bar Association, he said the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was the first milestone on the lawyers’ journey and the second would be the establishment of “democracy as per the 1973 constitution”.

He said the lawyers would now move ahead to rid the nation of the military rule, adding that the independence of the judiciary was not an easy task and it could not have been achieved but for the lawyers’ unity across the country.

Mr Malik said the reference was totally baseless and was filed with the intentions to strengthen the military rule in the country. He said March 9 and July 20 would always be remembered in the judicial history, the former for an attack on the judiciary and the later for its independence.

About the May 12 killings, he said the day could not be forgotten when the law of jungle prevailed in the city and innocent people, especially lawyers, were targeted.

He said the lawyers would continue their struggle for the restoration of democracy and sending the army back to the barracks.

Balochistan Bar Council President Bar Mohammad Kakar said the lawyers were now a sign of federation who played an important role in liberating the judiciary from the clutches of dictators.

He said the government had started victimising innocent people and sent hundreds of people behind bars, adding that he hoped that the people would get justice from the courts.

He said the only solution to the problems was an end to the military role in the country’s politics which, he said, could materialise only with a joint struggle of all segments of society.

Sindh Bar Council member Mehmood-ul-Hassan said President Pervez Musharraf’s policies had failed and he had no justification to remain in power any longer, asking the president to step down.

Expressing his happiness over the reinstatement of the chief justice, he said it was good news for the 160 million people who heard it across the country.

He asked the lawyers to step up their efforts for the restoration of the constitution and establishment of democracy.