Endorsing the decision of the All Punjab Lawyers' Representatives Convention, High Court Bar Multan and District Bar Associations of Multan.
Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Vehari, Lodhran, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang and Bhakkar have unanimously decided not to let their movement against General Pervez Musharraf dampen or die down by the black sheep in their ranks.
High Court Bar President Habibullah Shakir announced a full-day strike every Thursday as part of their protest against the 'unconstitutional suspension' of Chief Justice Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry besides taking out protest rallies, holding meetings and setting up hunger strike camps throughout the province and three hours strike by lawyers during which they would stage protests at their respective bars.
He announced a strike and boycott of courts on April 3 when lawyers from all over the province will gather in Islamabad on the occasion of the hearing on the reference against the chief justice. Bar Associations across the province were authorised to formulate their own protest schedules and programmes.
It also said the lawyers' movement would remain unflinching till such time their goal has not been achieved and the lawyers will gather at Karachi if the venue for their assembly is shifted there.
Bar has demanded prosecution of General Pervez Musharraf under Article 6, (high treason) of the Constitution for unconstitutionally holding office of president while in uniform of a general and that a national government should be formed and elections held under an independent and above the board election commissioner to let the actual representatives of the people come to power.
The Bar called for the removal of Chief Minister Punjab and Sindh for torturing, lawyers and keeping Justice Chaudhry in detention allegedly for six hours to force him to resign. Paying glowing tribute to the boldness and courage of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the lawyers saluted those judges and law officers who resigned to protest the reference.