Lawyers seek open trial of chief justice
HYDERABAD, March 13: Lawyers in the districts and towns of the province continued boycott of civil, sessions and circuit benches of Sindh High Court on Tuesday in response to a call given by Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association to protest against the presidential reference rendering Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) non-functional.
Awami Tehrik also joined the lawyers’ protest by staging token hunger strikes outside local press clubs in Tando Allahyar, Tando Bago, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Adam, Matiari and several other districts and towns.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Lawyers in Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Bhirya and Kandiaro boycotted court proceedings and about 80 lawyers staged a rally and demonstration outside the local press club.
Sindh Bar Council member Ghulam Mohammad Abbasi said while addressing a press conference at the local press club that the president’s action and constitution of Supreme Judicial Council were illegal and unconstitutional and demanded open trial. Activists of Awami Tehrik observed token hunger strike outside the press club in Moro against the president’s action.
SANGHAR: Lawyers continued boycott of courts and wore black armbands while majority of people remained glued to their TV sets watching latest developments in and around Supreme Court building in Islamabad.
MIRPURKHAS: Lawyers boycotted courts, observed a token hunger strike and staged a rally.
Lawyers in Umerkot also boycotted court proceedings, observed a black day and brought out a rally.
KHAIRPUR: Lawyers boycotted court, observed black day and brought out a procession.
The procession reached the press club. Senior lawyer Mushtaq Shah said while addressing the procession that the president’s action had paralysed the judiciary.
NAWABSHAH: Lawyers boycotted court and staged a rally. The protesters burnt their black coats and tyres on the road to the press club as mark of protest against the president’s action. A lawyer also said ‘azan’ in protest.
They said that there was no law that could make a chief justice "non-functional" under article 209 of the Constitution and declared the formation of Supreme Judicial Council as illegal.
SHIKARPUR: Lawyers continued boycott of courts, observed black day and staged a demonstration in the district and sessions courts premises.
Activists of Awami Tehrik also observed a token hunger strike outside the press club.
MITHI: Lawyers boycotted court proceedings and the members of DBA Tharparkar passed a resolution at an urgent meeting condemning the president’s action. The meeting termed the action as unjustified and demanded the CJP’s reinstatement.
LARKANA: Lawyers boycotted court proceedings and staged a procession. Wearing black armbands senior lawyers marched on the main roads of city the city.
AT activists observed a token hunger strike outside the press club and said that if the nation react vigorously against the president’s action it would render the country’s future insecure.