HYDERABAD, Nov 3: Lawyers’ bodies and political parties warned the government not to try to indemnify Pervez Musharraf’s unconstitutional acts and desist from following political policies of its predecessors, as lawyers and APDM workers observed black day across the province on Monday to condemn imposition of emergency on Nov 3 last year.
In Hyderabad, lawyers and political parties condemned the military dictator’s act by holding a rally after boycotting courts. They also staged a sit-in outside the civil courts building on Fatima Jinnah road along with scores of activists and leaders of component parties of APDM.
A general body meeting of lawyers presided over by PPP-backed Chaudhry Bashir Gujjar condemned imposition of emergency last year and held him responsible for destroying judiciary.
Gujjar said that credit went to Benazir Bhutto for a civilian government and expressed the hope that President Asif Ali Zardari would solve judges’ issue and restore judiciary to its pre-Nov 3 position.
Political parties’ leaders, including Abdul Waheed Qureshi, Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Afzal Gujjar, Muzaffar Kalhoro, Haneef Siddiqui, lawyers’ leaders Zahoor A. Baloch and Sultan Sheikh condemned imposition of emergency and said that the military dictator had attacked judiciary by imposing a new martial law in order to make the system subservient to his will.
But the movement launched by lawyers and civil society led to his ouster from power, they said.
In Sukkur, lawyers and workers of PML-N held a demonstration and a sit-in near central jail-II. Lawyers took to the streets from district and sessions court and marched on the main road. They were joined by a PML-N rally on near the central jail.
Leaders said that the lawyers’ struggle would finally pave the way for the restoration of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. Ali Ahmed Kurd’s election an outcome of lawyer’s struggle, they said and added that demand for restoration of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary had become nation’s demand.
Similar demonstrations and sit-ins were held in Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo, Ubauro, Daharki, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Kandhkot and Thull.
In Badin, Naushahro Feroze, Nawabshah, Sanghar, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Mirpurkhas, lawyers observed black day by holding general body meetings, wearing black armbands and hoisting black flags on their vehicles and bar offices.
Activists of the component parties of APDM also joined lawyers’ protest by holding separate rallies and sit-ins to express solidarity with the lawyers’ cause and condemn the dictator’s Nov 3 action.
In Larkana, lawyers boycotted courts proceedings in the circuit bench of the Sindh High Court and other lower courts in protest against ouster of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhri on Nov 3 last year and imposition of emergency.
Ahmed Ali Shaikh, president of High Court Bar Association Larkana, led a procession in the court premises, which chanted slogans against Gen Parvez Musharraf.
They vowed to continue struggle till the restoration of Justice Iftikhar and other judges.
Two groups of PML-N led by Ashique Hussain Kalhoro, member of central council and Zulfikar Sahito held demonstrations carrying banners and placards.
They burnt tyres while raising slogan ‘Musharraf Qanoon Namanzoor’ and severely criticised the unconstitutional step of the former president.
The workers of Sindh National Front and Khaksar Tehrik also held a procession and joined hands with lawyers.
They cited demand of the assassinated PPP leader Ms Benazir Bhutto for unfurling flag on the house of Justice Iftikhar and said that present rulers should fulfill the commitment of its leader and restore judiciary to the pre-Nov 2 position.