RAWALPINDI, Sept 8: Lawyers here on Monday staged protest rally and blocked main Kutchery Chowk chanting slogans against the government for delay in the restoration of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
They also condemned the American incursion into Pakistani territory.
Lawyers of Rawalpindi Bar Association (RBA) on the call of Punjab Bar Council (PBC) gathered at the bar premises and marched on the court premises. Later, they came out of the courts and staged a sit-in at the chowk. They were demanding restoration of all judges including the CJ.
Members of People’s Lawyers Forum (PLF) also participated in the protest rally. They said they had been part and parcel of the campaign for the rule of law and would not give it up till the restoration of all deposed judges to the November 2 position.
Later the lawyers held a general body meeting and condemned the American incursion and demanded immediate end to the attacks.
The law practitioners said they would not give up their support to the deposed CJ till he was honorably restored to his seat along with other judges.
The lawyers demanded action against the RBA general secretary for deviating from the course of lawyers’ movement and trying to get government office using his affiliation with the ruling party.
In a press release, the representatives of the RBA termed the September 6 general body meeting unlawful and against the constitution of the bar.
According to the press statement, the members of the executive body and the bar President Sardar Tariq Masood said they were not consulted for holding the meeting.
They said the matter of those who presided over the meeting would be referred to PBC for legal action against them. The September 6 session was presided over by High Court Bar Association (HCBA) President Sardar Asmatullah, former LHCBA president Chaudhry Ikram and Chaudhry Toufiq Asif.
Our Correspondent adds from Attock: Members of the District Bar Association (DBA) on Monday observed a complete strike against the “unnecessary” delay in the reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and vowed to continue with struggle till he is given back his job.
Lawyers boycotted the session and civil courts, and remained seated in the bar room or their chambers throughout the day.
DBA Attock president Rana Afsar Ali Khan hoped that the president-elect, Asif Ali Zardari, would reinstate all deposed judges immediately.
He criticised the anti-lawyers forces for politicising the issue of judges and trying to create friction among the attorneys for their vested interest.
Mr Khan also condemned the ongoing military operation in Swat, South Waziristan and others tribal areas.
PPI ADDS: Attorneys in Chakwal also observed complete strike on Monday and condemned the “attack” on the lawyers’ community in front of the Parliament building last Thursday.
They boycotted courts in Chakwal, Talagang and Choa Saiden Shah. As a result, the judicial proceedings remained suspended and the people faced great hardships, especially those who were seeking bail.