Lawyers, politicians, representatives of civil society organisations, general public and relatives of missing persons carried out a rally here on Thursday in front of Supreme Court, expressing their solidarity with the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
Carrying torches, the protestors chanted slogans against the rulers in general, and army in particular. They demanded of the government to reinstate the Chief Justice, restore real democracy, produce missing persons, give freedom to media and civil society organisations.
MMA President, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, PPPP leader Syed Nayar Hussain Bokhari, Aitzaz Ahsan, Zamrut Khan, PML leader Ahsan Iqbal, MMA leader Hanif Abbasi and a large number of prominent lawyers attended the rally.
The rally was taken out from Supreme Court building to D-chock, in which activists were holding banners and placards inscribed with anti-government slogans like "Go Musharraf Go" "where are our near and dear ones", "our war will continue till ousting of the army".
The participants strongly condemned the recent government decision to ban the telecast of live programmes by the private TV channels terming it a heinous tactic to control the free media.
Speaking on the occasion, Qazi Hussain Ahmed demanded of the rulers to leave the government and restore the constitution in its real shape. He said that constitution was the guardian of country institutions and demanded to give them specific status and respect.
He said that political parties, civil society organisations and religious groups would not allow General Musharraf to impose any extra-constitutional steps, which he hinted at an interview with a private TV channel. He further said the country was not in any position to bear more army rule and no new general would be acceptable.
He said that it was the prime time for freedom of judiciary and annul all the unlawful judgements of the past. Prominent lawyer and PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan said we have to struggle to restore real democracy for independence of judiciary in the country.
He alleged that army had ruled this country for the last 60 years directly or indirectly and looted the national wealth. Until the judges feel insecure, judiciary would not enjoy independence, he maintained.
He further said democracy could not be restored unless political parties would stop attending meeting of National Security Council and sitting with the rulers in Balochistan.
He ruled out PPP's deal with the present government. Aitzaz condemned the government for banning the private TV channels to telecast live programmes on the on-going judicial crisis. He appreciated the media for playing positive role in the struggle for what he called 'independence of judiciary and restoration of democracy'.
On the occasion, the wife of the under trial DIG, Salimullah Khan, appealed to the acting Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu action against illegal detention of her husband saying that he was not safe in jail. Syed Nayyar Bokharri, MNA, Ahsan Iqbal and Amna Janjua also addressed the rally.