Entire city has been decorated with colourful banners, buntings and lights and traders, political parties particularly PPP, PML-N, TIP, JAH, Seraiki Party, MMA's JUI, JI, Pakistan Democratic Party, Traders Alliance have established their welcome camps for rousing reception of Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Vice Chairman of PPP said that this historical reception would be a referendum against the present regime because 90 percent people came out of their homes to save the judiciary from the dictators.
Talking to newsmen at the camp of PPP (Human Rights Wing)'s Salim-ur-Rehman Mayo Yousaf Raza said that all the people without any discrimination of party affiliation, sect, religion and caste want democracy, free, fair and transparent elections in the country, and rule of the people. He categorically said that PPP would not deal with the present rulers nor it would let it get the vote by President in uniform.
Gilani said that now entire Pakistan nation has awakened which cannot be hoodwinked. He said that people had rejected the "Lotas" (disloyals) who had betrayed the party. Rousing welcome was witnessed by thousands of people in Okara.
MMA's Liaquat Baloch said that "we are endeavouring to save the institutions like judiciary, press, parliament and Iftikhar Chaudhry is a symbol of courage who refused to accept the dictator's orders.
He said that Jamia Hasfa issue was once again raised to divert the people's attention from the national issues. At an occasion Chief Justice said that the vehicles accompanying his convoy should carry the national flags, as it is our identity and always boosted my morale.
There should be only national anthem, which is the most sacred song for us, he added. However the CJ avoided replying the queries of journalists at different places. Hundreds of lawyers, political workers, civil society organisations and general public were present at all big or small towns to accord a rousing welcome to him. They chanted slogans and showered rose petals on him.
Vice President of Pakistan Bar Council, Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig, High Court Bar President Habib-ullah Shakir, General Secretary Rana Naveed Akhtar, District Bar President Muhammad Akram Bhatti, General Secretary Mumtaz Noon Tangra and the office bearers of Supreme Court Bar Association, Lahore High Court Bar Association, Lahore Bar Association, Punjab Bar Council also welcome the CJP at different places.
Leading counsel Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan came straight to Multan by air from Islamabad. Heavy contingent of police was deployed at different places and they cordoned off the entire venue of lawyers' convention but created no hindrance in the way of people who were going towards venue of lawyers' convention.
Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi President of PPP Punjab reached at Qadarpuraan to receive the Chief Justice. Similarly PML-N's Secretary Ahsan Iqbal led the caravan of his party men.
The Chief Justice proceeded to Multan by road from Lahore on Saturday morning at 5am in a shape of caravan without taking breakfast. Bar associations of Bhai-Phero (Phool Nagar) Pattoki, Okara, Sahiwal, Chichawatni, Mian Channu and Khanewal gave a warm reception to CJP on his way to Multan.
President of High Court Bar Habib-ullah Shakir said that first reception camp out of Lahore was set up at Shahpur Kanjran stop on Multan Road, by Mazhar Mehmood Bhatti and Rana Kashif, advocates of the LBA, where the participants of the CJP convoy were to be served with breakfast but they refused. While bar associations of Pattoki, Okara, Sahiwal, Chichawatni, Mian Channu and Khanewal gave a warm reception to CJP on his way to Multan.