Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was received warmly by political leaders, workers human rights activists and senior bar members on his arrival at Allama Iqbal Airport here on Wednesday.
Among other Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Mashhood, MNA Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Khakhsar Tehrike Chief Sahibzada Hameed-ud-din, PML-N Lahore President and Secretary Mian Marghoob and Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur Rehman, Jamat Islami, Tehrike Insaf, Labour Party and Pakhton Khawan Milli Awami Party local leaders, senior bar members, President Lahore Bar Manzoor Qadir, Ahmed Awais and Rashid Rizvi received deposed Chief Justice.
All the way from airport to Lahore High Court Bar Association premises, banners, posters, hoardings, welcoming stalls, water tanks were installed on the road sides. Political parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its labour, minority, women and lawyers wings, Tehrik-e-Insaf, Jamat-e-Islami and traders had set-up their stalls at the Mall.
However PML-N set up its stalls on the road-sides on the way from airport to LHCBA. Pakistan People Party and its lawyer wing however kept it away and did not participate with the lawyers.
Traffic police and city police remained alert and kept vigilant eye on the people to avoid any untoward incident. President Supreme Court Bar Association had came with deposed Chief Justice from Multan however former President HCBA drove his car from airport to LHCBA.
Mall was closed after 10.00 pm for general traffic, however pedestrian were roaming and enjoying songs being played on the stalls. The mall however was completely closed by the police from judges gate of the Lahore High Court and scanner machine was installed on the road. The LHCBA premises were closed for commoners and political workers. Strict security measures were adopted with the collaboration of local police.
However, police was responsible only for security arrangements outside the venue, as lawyers had made their own arrangements inside the LHC building. Scanner was install on the only entrance to the meeting place at the main gate of the Lahore High Court. Lawyers were also asked for their identification and failure they were also asked for their bar ID.
About 5000 chairs were installed in the premises and a huge stage with the big poster of deposed chief justice was also display behind the stage. Three big screens were also installed in the premises and huge posters and banners including a poem with picture of Aitzaz was also hanged in the premises.
Around 15,000 to 20,000 lawyers were expected to arrive in the city from Multan. Their stay arrangements were made at all bar rooms of LHCBA, LBA, Cantt courts and Model Town courts. PML-N, Pakistan Medical Association and some religious institutions have also offered for long march participants over night stay in the city.
On June 12 Thursday at 9am the long-march will leave Lahore for Islamabad and in the way convoys of lawyers and common public would join the march. The march will proceed jointly from Rawalpindi District Bar to Murree Road, Abpara to the Parliament House.