Lawyers observed hunger strike to protest the Provisional Constitutional Order, the emergency and the termination of judges of higher courts in a camp of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA).
Bar office bearers and members also sat in the camp with political workers, human rights activists and civil society members joining them and expressed their solidarity with the lawyers. Association President Ehsan Bhoon and Secretary Sarfraz were also part of the camp gathering.
Speakers attacked President Pervez Musharraf for violating the Constitution by terminating the judges dealing with a string petition against him. They said such an action against the judiciary meant to help him get favours from the judiciary and that the Election Commission and the judges taking oath under the PCO were working for the government.
"The lawyers are in struggle for the independence of the judiciary and will not contest the elections," they said, adding that they hoped political parties would also boycott the elections.