PESHAWAR, Aug 18: Jubilant lawyers celebrated the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf by distributing sweets and playing music here on Monday with the resolve to continue their struggle till the restoration of Pre-Nov 3 judiciary.

“We will observe thanksgiving and deliverance day in all the courts throughout NWFP on Tuesday to celebrate the victory of lawyers and defeat of a dictator who had trampled various state institutions in the country,” said Qazi Mohammad Naeem, the vice-chairman of NWFP Bar Council.

Scores of lawyers glued to the television sets at Peshawar High Court’s barroom and jumped with jubilation when President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation. The barroom reverberated with slogans of “Go Musharraf go.”

Following the speech of the president, the lawyers took out a procession which marched up to the NWFP Assembly.

“The nation has got rid of the worst dictator the country had ever seen because of the lawyers’ movement and active support of the media and civil society groups,” said Essa Khan, the secretary general of Peshawar High Court Bar Association. He added that now they expect the government to restore the pre-Nov 3 judiciary in the next couple of days.

PHCBA vice chairman Fida Gul said that their struggle would continue till restoration of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other deposed judges. He added that Pervez Musharraf should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution and should not be given a safe passage.

Soon after the president announced his resignation, a delegation of NWP Bar Council led Qazi Mohammad Naeem visited the residence of PHC dysfunctional Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan and senior judge, Justice Shahjehan Khan, who had not taken oath under the PCO.

The delegation presented them bouquets and shared sweets with them. The delegation including Ms Parveen Akhter, Said Tahar Khan, Jalauddin Khan, Aurangzeb Khan, Kifayat Ali, Tawab Khan and others. They congratulated Justice Tariq Pervez and stated that their success was all due to the courageous stance taken by the judges of the superior courts who had declined to take oath under the PCO and did not bow before a despotic ruler.

Justice Tariq said that it was the victory of all those citizens who stood for the rule of law and supremacy of the constitution. He added that their struggle was not for their personal gains and was aimed at independence of the judiciary.

Meanwhile, the lawyers arranged a musical programme in the night at the high court which was attended by a large number of people especially the youngsters. Scores of them danced to the tune of popular songs. They also took out a torch bearer procession.

Meanwhile, the Malgary Wakeelan has termed the resignation of General (retired) Pervez Musharraf legal, constitutional and moral victory of the peoples of Pakistan as well as the lawyers.

An emergency meeting of the Malgary Wakeelan, affiliated with Awami National Party, chaired by its president Razaullah Khan, was held on Monday which was also attended by the president of Peshawar District Bar Association, Fazalur Rehman Khan, Mohammad Rafique Mohmand, Tila Khan, Ayaz Khan, Fazle Haleem. Hafeezal Asad Shangla, Sahibzada Talha Saeed and other lawyers.

The speakers said that the universal truth had been proved that the “law sometimes sleeps but never dies.” They said that Pervez Musharraf who twice abrogated the constitution was now seeking safe exit.