Lawyers begin Long March for judges restoration

Various political parties announced to participate in the March being taken out from Karachi and Quetta.The lawyers in great number and workers of various political parties started to arrive at Quaid’s mausoleum, from where they will set out for Islamabad on buses and coaches. A large rally comprising hundreds of lawyers appeared from Sindh High Court, on this occasion, massive traffic jam was witnessed at MA Jinnah Road.

Also, the rallies from all three bars Karachi Bar, Malir Bar and Sindh Bar reached at Quaid’s mausoleum.
The lawyers rally arrived at Quaid’s mausoleum, where it was received with rousing slogans, after which the caravan of lawyers left for Sohrab Goth at 1045am headed by former Supreme Court Bar President Muneer A Malik.

JI General Secretary Munawwar Hussain will address the lawyers’ rally at Super Highway.

A lawyers rally in Sanghar is all geared up to leave for Sukkar. Another large rally of lawyers is starting its journey of Long March from Quetta, headed by Ali Ahmed Kurd, who will address the rally in Sukkar. Kurd said his caravan will go through Darra Bolan to Sibbi, Jackobabad, Dera Murad Jamali, where lawyers and civil society representatives will receive them and join the rally on its route to Islamabad.
Meantime addressing a press conference in Lahore, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan issued the details regarding the Long March routes and the participation of the deposed Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.

He said the Long March will appear from the Sindh High Court attended by a large number of civil society representatives, lawyers and workers of political parties.

He said the PCO judges would not be invited, as lawyers and people do not believe them the judges.

Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan said President Pervez Musharraf should not be given the safe passage, adding he should be tried in free judiciary against his illegal measures.

Addressing a meeting of lawyers early today’s morning, Justice (rtd) Sabihud Din said no society can survive without a free judiciary. Justice (rtd) Fakhrud Din G Ibrahim said the lawyers’ Long March was the need of time.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan said the millions of his party workers will give rousing welcome to the deposed Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry on his arrival everywhere.

His workers have completed all the arrangements to give unprecedented reception to the deposed CJP on his arrival in the federal capital.

Talking to ARY One World in London, he said he would continue his legal action against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), adding the negotiations in this connection are underway.

Imran Khan said President Pervez Musharraf deems that US President George W Bush will come to his rescue; however, the people will bring him to book.

Imran Khan alleged that Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is putting at stake the future of the country and the nation to save his collar, as he is under NRO forced to keep Musharraf in his office.

Commenting on PPP-PML-N alliance, PTI chief said Nawaz is going along with Asif Zardari and it will at last prove detrimental to the former.

Also, Jamaat Islami announced its schedule for participation in the Long March. Addressing a press conference, JI Deputy Secretary General Fareed Pracha said the party workers will come along with the lawyers from various areas of Karachi today, from the Interior Sindh on June 10 and from Punjab they would come forward to participate in the Long March.

Also, the JI workers will set up reception stalls at various points on the route of Long March across the country.

Expressing solidarity with the lawyers for the restoration of the judiciary and the supremacy of the parliament, scores of former diplomats announced to take part in the Long March.

The diplomats said the UN inquest in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination is in not in national interest.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, the diplomats said the government failed in restoring the deposed judges and Murree Declaration could not be implemented.

The diplomats including Shamshad Ahmed Khan, Akram Zaki and Riaz Khokhar said Musharraf’s November 3 steps were unconstitutional which jeopardized the prestige of Pakistan in foreign world.

They asserted that an executive order is enough for the judges restoration. The former diplomats rejected the constitutional amendments regarding the judges restoration, adding Musharraf is an unconstitutional president.