LAHORE, June 11: Scores of political parties, civil society activists, lawyers, traders and students set up camps on Wednesday from the airport to the Lahore High Court (LHC) to welcome deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Multan Road to greet Multan-to-Islamabad-via-Lahore caravan. Justice Chaudhry, who landed at Allama Iqbal Airport from Multan, was to deliver a speech to city lawyers at the LHC parking lot.
The LHC Bar Association (LHCBA) set up a 12-foot high and 30-foot long stage in the parking lot of the high court and arranged almost 1,000 chairs for the participants.
Besides welcome camps, political workers, lawyers, traders and civil society activists also hoisted banners, portraits and hoardings of the deposed chief justice along his route from Allama Iqbal Airport to the LHC building.
Another route decorated in connection with the lawyers-led long march was Multan Road where a number of reception camps were also set up to welcome a caravan coming from Multan.
Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leaders Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Mian Marghoob and Rana Mashood oversaw their party arrangements to welcome Justice Chaudhry. The party hoisted thousands of yellow banners on The Mall inscribed with appeals to people to join the march. Other parties who have their presence felt through their banners or other published martial are Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf, Khaksar Tehreek and Labour Party. The vans of Jamaat-i-Islami with sound systems blaring pro-judge songs were seen on the city roads. Traders on The Mall and Hall Road set up a camp at Regal Chowk.
Traffic Wardens and police contingents remained on high alert to avert any eventualities and control traffic flow on The Mall.
Security officials checked the address venue with sniffer dogs and other security gadgets.
ARRANGEMENTS: LHCBA Secretary Rana Asadullah said the participants of the long march would be lodged at the barrooms of the LHCBA, LBA, Cantt and Model Town courts. He said the PLM-N, Pakistan Medical Association and some religious institutions had also arranged accommodations for lawyers.
On Thursday (today), Justice Chaudhry will see off the participants for Islamabad at 9pm. Lawyers from Muzaffarabad, Abbotabad and Peshawar will also leave for Islamabad on Thursday. The march will proceed from Rawalpindi District Bar to Murree Road, Aabpara to Parliament House.