Lawyers hold protest rallies

The lawyers on Thursday observed hunger strike, held general house meetings and took out rallies in the provincial capital for restoration of deposed Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges of the higher courts. Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Lahore Bar Association (LBA) held a combine rally from Aiwan-e-Adal courts to Chairing Cross.
Activists of Tehrik-e-Insaf, Terhrik-e-Khaksar, Jamat-e-Islami and Labour Party also joined the lawyers' rally. All the non-lawyer participants were holding their respective flags and chanting slogans in favour of the sacked CJ and against the government. First, the LBA lawyers took out rally from Aiwan-e-Adal courts and marched towards GPO Chowk, where they were joined by the LHCBA lawyers and activists from different segments of life and marched towards the Chairing Cross.
The LBA lawyers were much enthusiastic in showing their aggression against the government by chanting slogans and making their speeches for restoration of the judges.
The LHCBA lawyers were holding a large piece of white cloth to get it signed by the masses of 10 million people from different walks of life in favour of their movement that they announced to present to the parliament at the end of the march on March 16. However, the protestors dispersed after half an hour's stay at Chairing Cross. Lawyers, during their weekly protest activities on Thursday, strongly condemned the brutal killing of The News and Geo's correspondent Musa Khan in Swat and passed condolence resolutions.
Earlier, lawyers speaking to the General House of the LHCBA asserted that the PCO of November 3,2007 will continue to be questionable for being issued by a Military dictator under the force of Emergency.
They also said that their movement is not merely aimed at reinstatement of a judge, but above all, its objective is to establish an independent judicial system, which is remedy for all problems confronting the country and the nation.
Further, they said that the parliamentarians are also awakened to the need of an independent judiciary, as they would never accept Article 270(AAA), which protects the PCO in question, as part of the Constitution.
Former President, LHCBA, Ahmad Awais speaking in this context said, country cannot have a strong and lasting democracy unless dictatorship either by the civil or military person is curbed through an independent judiciary, he added.
Former President of the Bar, Malik Saeed Hassan said in presence of Article 270(AAA) in the Constitution, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar cannot be removed as Pakistan's CJ therefore, he advocated efforts for the restoration of the Constitution.
Former LHC Judge and presidential candidate in the Bar election, MA Shahid Siddiqi said that Article 270(AAA) was not brought about by the elected representatives of the people, a dictator introduced it and it was validated by the Supreme Court which itself was the product of the PCO. He said that lawyers are committed to continuing struggle for the rule of law, restoration of judiciary and the supremacy of the constitution.
Former President LHCBA and Member Pakistan Bar Council, Hafiz Abdul Rahman Ansari said in his speech that lawyers and political workers, who rendered sacrifices for the rule of law and independent of judiciary would remain unforgettable and live for ever.