ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: Lawyers on Monday staged a sit-in at D-Chowk to observe Black Day against the proclamation of emergency rule and sacking of apex court judges by former president Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007.

The rally comprising about 2000 lawyers, political leaders and workers and representatives of civil societies reached D-Chowk, at the edge of Constitution Avenue at around 9pm under the leadership of former and present presidents of Supreme Court Bar Association Atazaz Ahsan and Ali Ahmad Kurd.

The lawyers were chanting slogans against president Zardari and former president Pervez Musharraf and in favour of judiciary and deposed chief justice. The leaders asked the participants of the rally to sit on the road when the rally reached the chowk.

The lawyers’ leaders avoided entering the Constitution Avenue, although there was no hurdle on their way. They reached an agreement with the Islamabad administration on Sunday night that they would not enter the avenue. Earlier they had announced to stage sit-in in front of Parliament House or Supreme Court.

Police and rangers equipped with anti-riot gear were deployed on both side of the Parade Ground and Constitution Avenue.

Earlier, the rally entered the city from Fayazabad and traveled through Islamabad Highway, Khyaban-e-Suhrawardy, Ataturk Avenue, Shalimar-6 and Parade Ground and reached D-chowk.

A large number of political activists, belonging to Jamat-i-Islami and Pakistan Tharik-i-Insaf left the rally when it reached Aabpara.