The lawyers' community on Monday observed black day in protest against the decision of General Pervez Musharraf to retain both the offices of President and Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The bar associations held protest meetings, hoisted black flags on their buildings, while lawyers wore black bands on their arms. The bar associations also adopted resolutions, urging General Musharraf to quit both the offices, immediately.
The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) also took out a procession at the main gate of the Lahore High Court. The processionists chanted slogans against General Musharraf.
Earlier, the LHCBA in a meeting, held with its President Ahmed Awais in the chair, announced their struggle against General Musharraf until he quits both the offices.
While addressing the meeting, Ahmed Awais, Malik Saeed Hassan and others said General Musharraf had subverted the Constitution of Pakistan and undermined the judiciary as well as parliament. They said the lawyers would continue their struggle for the supremacy of rule of law. They said a Prime Minister of an elected government had removed General Musharraf from his office but, unfortunately, he hatched a conspiracy against the elected government and toppled it illegally and without lawful authority. They alleged the present rulers were playing a role in international conspiracy against the country.