After the bitter ending of the 'long march' in Islamabad, the lawyers' weekly protest rallies have lost momentum, and it is believed that lawyers could not keep their movement alive. However, on Thursday, lawyers were enthusiastic and charged which suggested that they would not rest until the accomplishment of their objectives.
Activists of PML-N, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Khaksaar Tehreek, Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) and civil society organisations also participated in the protest rally. The pro-PPP lawyers parted their ways and they are running after their leadership to attain the jobs as legal advisors of local councils, corporations, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, attorneys, assistant attorneys, law officers. They are not taking part even in the meetings of the bar and are avoiding meeting their colleagues.
People and anti-PPP lawyers are openly criticising the PPP government for increasing the prices of essential commodities, new tariff of electricity and natural gas. PTI activists also chanted slogans against PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for not honouring the Murree Declaration which envisaged restoration of all 'deposed' judges in the meeting.
Addressing a joint meeting of High Court Bar Association, and District Bar, lawyer leaders strongly condemned PPP for supporting President Musharraf and using delaying tactics in the restoration of 'deposed' judges in accordance with the Murree Declaration. Adopting a resolution, they demanded immediate restoration of judges, and urged the ruling coalition of the PPP and the PML-N not to compromise its principled stance on the judges issue.
The meeting by adopting another resolution termed PCO judges as 'assassins' of the Constitution and prestige of judiciary by taking oath under the PCO of President Musharraf. The joint meeting was addressed by President Mehmood Ashraf Khan, President, Naveed General Secretary, District Bar President Najaf Ali Chavan, Muhammad Ashraf Sindhu ,Qamar-uzzaman Butt, Mazhar Jamil Qureshi and Mehboob Alam.
The meeting in another resolution unanimously condemned the attack of Pakistan Army with bombs and rockets on the innocent people in the volatile region and stressed the need to resolve the issue with dialogue. The meeting through a resolution held that PPP was providing "oxygen" to the regime of President Musharraf, which was near its logical end.