The legal fraternity observed "Black Day" across the province here on Thursday and condemned the killing of lawyers and others people in Karachi on the same day in 2007 during lawyer's movement for restoration of judiciary. They urged the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the mass killing of lawyers and political activists.
Lawyers did not appear before the courts and participated in meetings held by bar associations to pay tribute to victims of May 12 carnage. Black flags were hoisted on bar buildings and premises while the lawyers wore black armbands. A general body meeting of Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) through a resolution demanded of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the May 12 incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. The bar decided to submit a written application to the CJP in this regard.
Addressing the meeting, LHCBA leaders strongly condemned the killing of innocent lawyers and political workers in Karachi on May 12, 2007. They said the lawyers would never forget the sacrifices of their fellows, which they had rendered for the restoration of judiciary.
The speakers said the whole killing spree in Karachi was carried out on the directives of then president General Pervez Musharraf (Retd), PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and MQM chief Altaf Hussain. They said the MQM proved to be a killer party and enemy of independent judiciary and lawyers. LHCBA president Asghar Ali Gill, former president Ahmad Awais, Shafqat Mehmood Chohan, Muhammad Azhar Sidique and Malik Munsif Awan were among the speakers.