The lawyers in the metropolis took out a protest rally at the Mall Road, which was also joined by political workers and different organisations of civil society. The demonstrators later peacefully dispersed before the provincial assembly.
The lawyers also observed strike in protest against the suspension of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and boycotted the proceedings of courts. The workers of political parties including PML-N, PPP, PTI, MMA, Labour Party, Khaksar Tehrik, Istiqlal Party and Pakistan Qaumi Party joined them. The bar members wore black strips and hoisted black flags on the bar buildings.
The protesters were holding placards and banners while chanting slogans against President Musharraf, Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. Among others, President Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) Ehsan Bhoon, Secretary Sarfraz Chaudhry, President Lahore Bar Association Shah Mauhammad, deputy opposition leader in provincial assembly Rana Sanaullah, and Jehnagir Badr addressed the rally.
While addressing the lawyers in front of Punjab Assembly, the speakers said that lawyers had united the nation and were struggling for the rule of law and independence of judiciary. They said that present rulers had lost confidence of the masses and added that their days in power had been numbered.
They said that people of Pakistan would continue their peaceful protest. They called upon President of Pakistan to resign from his office and form a national government for holding general elections under an independent election commission.