Lawyers on Tuesday organised a rally led by President District Bar Muhammad Akram Bhatti and staged a demonstration at Chowk Kutchery protesting against manhandling of lawyers and violation of the Supreme Court's verdict.
More than 500 lawyers chanting anti-government slogans took part in the rally followed by protest meetings at the High Court Bar and District Bar. "We are protesting against the government for torturing the lawyers and committing contempt of court by not implementing the judgement of the Supreme Court which had allowed Mian Nawaz Sharif to return under article 15 of the Constitution," said Muhammad Akram Bhatti.
Pakistan Muslim League-N (women wing) also staged a demonstration at Chungi No 9 under the leadership of Begum Sultana Shaheen. They blocked the road by burning tyres and chanted anti-government slogans. Sultana Shaheen said that PML-N would hold daily protests across the country against Nawaz Sharif's deportation. She alleged that female activists were also under arrest.
PML-N leader Syed Zafar Ali Shah condemned Nawaz's deportation and called it a "black scar on Pakistan". "Abuse of power and violence against innocent lawyers and political activists have generated hatred against the government," he said, adding that protests could not be suppressed through violence.
All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) also observed black day against the deportation of former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and arrest of their leaders across the country. They staged a demonstration at Chowk Jan Muhammad with more than 300 activists chanting slogans in favour of Mian Nawaz Sharif and against General Pervez Musharraf.