KARACHI, April 10: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, Sindh, will hold another rally on April 13, the day of hearing of presidential reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, to express solidarity with protesting lawyers struggling for the independence of judiciary.

This was announced by ARD Sindh President Zain Ansari at a press conference at the residence of PPP Sindh President Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday.

He said the ARD had decided that the rally would be taken out from Fresco Chowk to Supreme Court Registry near Shaheen Complex where leaders would address the participants. However, the alliance leaders decided that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would not be invited in the rally.

Mr Ansari, who is also a leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, said the ARD would support the struggle of lawyers for the independence of judiciary. He criticised the regime for failing to maintain law and order and said the recent spate of violence in different areas showed helplessness of rulers in providing security and protection to citizens.

He condemned the commencement of what he called the media trial of Benazir Bhutto and her party. He said the ARD would make a deal only with the masses and not with the military rulers.

Qaim Ali Shah said the regime tried to create rift within the ARD but it miserably failed and the ARD would continue its struggle for restoration of true democracy.

He said the government raised the issue of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa to divert public attention from judicial crisis and other serious issues. “The government wants to prolong the issue of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa to hide real problems,” he added.

Earlier, the leadership of ARD Sindh discussed the overall political scenario and observed that the government had completely lost its writ.

The meeting observed that the government could resolve the judicial crisis by reinstating the CJP. The meeting also reiterated their demand of establishment of an interim government of national consensus to hold free, fair and transparent general election in the country.

Sardar Rahim, Salim Zia, Rashid Rabbani, Waqar Mehdi, Basharat Mirza, Rafiq Engineer and other leaders were also present on the occasion.