Lawyers and political workers vow to fight for free judiciary

Lawyers and political activists on Monday took out rallies and held public meetings to pay homage to the victims of May 12, 2007 and vowed to continue fight against dictatorship and for the restoration of independent judiciary. Legal fraternity boycotted the courts and took out procession from Karachi Bar to Karachi Press Club attended by a large number of lawyers, who were chanting anti-Musharraf slogans.To avoid any untoward incident, a large number of police contingents were deployed on waysides. The procession finally ended at Karachi Press Club. Addressing the protestors, Naib Amir Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Liaquat Baloch slammed Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), for his dubious posture on reinstatement of judges.He alleged that under National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), all his cases had been abolished and now he was playing a role scripted by President Pervez Musharraf. “The same was being played earlier by Chaudhry brothers,” he maintained.He alleged that the ruling coalition was not sincere in reinstating the judges and backing out of their pledges made to public in this regard. He said that for restoration of independent judiciary people had laid their lives and this movement would continue to succeed. Baloch alleged the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was responsible for the May 12 and April 9 bloodshed. He said that two deadlines had been set for restoration of independent judiciary but the ruling coalition finally came to nothing. “The third one is being planned to set,” Naib Amir JI added. The ruling coalition, he maintained, was supporting the dictatorship in the country. All Parties Democratic Movement would announce its future line of action on May 14, he said. He said that lawyers would continue their struggle for judiciary restoration along with civil society. He added that those judges took oath under Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) were not acceptable to people and lawyers. Ruling coalition held talks on reinstatement of judges and independence of judiciary in Dubai and London, which was tantamount to insult of Pakistani nation, Baloch deplored. On the occasion, President Karachi Bar, Mehmoodul Hassan and General Secretary Naeem Quereshi also spoke. Later, JI also led a rally to mark the first anniversary of May 12, 2007 victims. Speakers lauded the PML-N for its detachment from the ruling coalition. They said that APDM’s stance on judicial issue was right. JI Amir of Sindh chapter, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti, JUP leader, Siddiqu Rathor, leader of Pakhtoonkhuwa Milli Awami Party, Hakeem Khan Mandokhel and several other local leaders of JI spoke on the occasion. Qura’n Khwani at Peoples Secretariat was also arranged for those who sacrificed their lives on May 12 last year for the restoration of judiciary.