Lawyers of Multan Bar Association on Tuesday continued their hunger strike and protest against imposition of state of emergency and closure of private TV channels.
Seven lawyers Muhammad Akram Bhatti President of DBA, Mian Adil Mushtaq, Khalid Masuid Ghani, Bilal Butt, Altaf Hussain Bukhario, Usman Bhatti and HRCP Multan Chapter President Rashid Rehman were warmly received in District when they reached at the bar from Attock and Jhelum prisons.
Later, the lawyers held a protest march in District Courts. A large number of lawyers including members of civil society and students participated in the protest rally. They raised anti-government slogans and against those judges who took oath under the PCO.
Expressing their solidarity with media, they raised slogans in favour of private TV channels and demanded opening of all closed TV channels. The lawyers wanted to come out of the District Courts premises but a heavy contingent of police restricted them to the courts.
Lawyers said that they would continue their struggle till democracy and rule of law is not restored in the country. They demanded of President General Pervez Musharraf to doff uniform and hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
They said that the way the lawyers, journalists and civil society members were tortured and arrested showed the designs of the regime for the next five years. Press was an important pillar of the society and decision to close private TV channels proved that government did not want journalists in the country, they added.
The lawyers also demanded of the government to allow them to meet detained lawyers. They said some lawyers languishing in different jails of the country were suffering from ailments and were not provided proper medical facilities. The lawyers boycotted court proceedings from 11am to 1pm.
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