LAHORE, May 17: Lawyers on Saturday vowed to set off on a ‘long march’ to Islamabad or Rawalpindi on June 10 for pressuring the government for reinstating the deposed judges.

The decision was taken at an All Pakistan Lawyers’ Representative Convention.

“A committee will decide whether the march should kick off from Karachi, Lahore or Multan. But the date has been finalised,” said Pakistan Bar Council vice-chairman Said Rehman at the offices of the Lahore High Court Bar Association.

Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan said the march would either end either in Islamabad or Rawalpindi. “You do understand what I mean when I say Rawalpindi,” Mr Ahsan said in a veiled reference to the Army House, where President Pervez Musharraf presently lives.

Deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry would attend lawyers’ conventions in Faisalabad on May 24, Peshawar on May 31 and Lahore on June 9, said the PBC vice-chairman.

He said lawyers would also ask students, traders and political parties to join the march, adding the PBC had retained the call for the boycott of courts and the lawyers would keep taking out rallies every Thursday.

Lawyers would now observe a one-hour strike daily and set up camps.

Criticising the ruling coalition for not keeping its promises, he said it had neither kept its pledge for restoration of judiciary in the Bhurban Decalaration nor its vows for reinstating judges in 30 days after the formation of the government. “They had till May 12 but did not reinstate the judges. This has frustrated not just the lawyers but also the people of Pakistan.”

The SCBA president, Aitzaz Ahsan, said although the convention had reposed its confidence in him, he would still take a couple of days to decide on contesting the by-poll. He added if the deposed judges were restored before June 10, lawyers would celebrate the occasion.

Journalists were not allowed to cover the convention. Some 150 representatives of Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association, provincial bar councils, high court and district bars from across the country attended the convention.

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...