Lawyers, PPP and Pakistan Saraiki Party took out separate protest rallies and observed sit-in against presidential reference and efforts made by PML-Q to sabotage law and order in Islamabad on Tuesday.
They condemned pro-government lawyers gathering in Islamabad to develop clashes with the lawyers, who have been demonstrating to save judicial system, constitution and rule of law.
The protest rallies and demonstrations were reflecting more anger, aggressiveness and momentum in Multan after televising live coverage of Islamabad pro-government and anti-government demonstrations. Dozens of lawyers and political activists assembled inside district court complex and marched on the road till Kalma Chowk.
The lawyers also observed complete strike on this occasion and boycotted the courts. No lawyer appeared before any court. Holding black flags, placards and banners, the leaders and workers of PML (N), Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian, People's Saraiki Party and Pakistan Saraiki Party participated in the protest.
The demonstrators chanted slogans against the government and demanded immediate reinstatement of the Chief Justice. District bar president Akram Bathi, general secretary Mumtaz Noor Tangra, PPP city president Khurshid Ahmed Khan, district president Khalid Hanif Lodhi and others led the rally.
They said that the abrupt response of lawyers' community made it clear that they were not ready to make any compromise on issue of sanctity of the bench. They pointed out that the country was passing through the most serious crisis of its history.
They demanded of the army to immediately withdraw from political horizon and return to its barracks to save the geographical frontiers of the country. They also condemned show cause notice served on Aaj TV channel by the Pemra and said that the notice unveiled real intentions of the autocratic regime.
PPP Human Rights Wing Punjab president Saleem-ur Rehman Meo, Zubaida Khokhar, Moghees Shahzada Bhutto, Malik Nasir Mahmood, Rashid Mirza, Baba Riaz Ghalib, Akhtar Siddiqui, Zulnorain Bhutta and others were also present in the rally. Heavy police contingents were deployed at the spot to maintain law and order situation.