LAHORE, Nov 11: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and the Pakistan Wapda Hydroelectric Central Labour Union have demanded an immediate end to the emergency rule, reinstatement of judges of superior courts and release of lawyers and political workers.

A meeting held on Sunday with Dr Zahid Mohyuddin in chair, the PMA, Punjab Branch, called the emergency a camouflaged martial law aimed at controlling the judiciary.

The meeting resented the mass arrest of lawyers, human rights activists and political workers and police brutalities against lawyers protesting against the proclamation of emergency and summary dismissal of judges of superior courts.

The meeting paid homage to lawyers and judges for standing against the emergency rule. They also demanded withdrawal of arbitrary amendments to the Pemra Ordinance aimed at preventing the electronic media to broadcast news.

The meeting also decided to start a signature campaign for apprising the international community of the feelings of the people about the proclamation of emergency.

The Pakistan Wapda Hydro-Electric Central Labour Union condemned the emergency rule. Secretary general Khurshid Ahmed said that free and fair elections could not be held in the country without an immediate end to emergency and setting up of a caretaker government.

He said that the workers supported the struggle of lawyers, political workers and civil society organisations for the restoration of the constitution and reinstatement of judges.