The lawyers, political workers and representatives of different organisations of civil society held a rally here on Thursday at the Mall Road against the suspension of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
The lawyers boycotted the courts' proceedings and wore arm bands to register their protest over the suspension of the chief justice. Black flags were hoisted on the bar buildings.
The workers of political parties including PML-N, PPPP, PTI, MMA, Labour Party, Khaksar Tehrik, Isteqlal Party and Pakistan Qaumi Party joined the rally.
The protesters, who were holding placards and banners, chanted slogans against President Musharraf and Punjab Chief Minister.
Among others President Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) Ahsan Bhon, Secretary Sarfraz Chaudhry, President Lahore Bar Association addressed the participants of the rally. The speakers said that lawyers are struggling for the rule of law and independence of judiciary. They said that the movement of the lawyers has almost achieved its targets.
They added that their movement was not only aimed at reinstating the chief justice of Pakistan but it will also ensure provision of fundamental rights of every citizen.
On the occasion they said that present rulers have lost public confidence. They demanded the President of Pakistan to quit his office and form a national government to hold general elections under an independent election commission.
The lawyers and other protesters returned to the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) premises and sat in hunger strike camps, set up by the bar and 'Adliya Bachao' Committee (ABC).
The lawyers including Abdul Rashid Qureshi, convenor of the Committee, Secretary LHCBA Sarfraz Ahmad Cheema, the Finance Secretary Ruby Hayat Awan, Muhammad Azhar Siddique, Mian Jamil Akhtar, Tayyaba Zamir Qureshi, Yawar Malik, Waqar Hanjra, Raja Zulqarnain and Nasir Zaidi, President LHCBA Ahsan Bhon, Secretary Sarfraz Cheema, former president Hafiz Abdul Rehman Ansari and various leaders of political parties joined them.
Earlier the bar condemned secretary education Punjab for issuing show-cause notices to teachers and professors who joined the protest rally. The bar also decided to issue show-cause notice to secretary education for taking illegal action against the teachers and professors.
Director News Aaj TV, Talat Hussain also addressed the bar members and explained the role of media in the struggle for independence of judiciary.
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