Uproar over CJP issue in Sindh
HYDERABAD, May 2: Lawyers boycotted court proceedings in several districts and towns of the Sindh province on Wednesday in support of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on a call given by Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association and Sindh Bar Council.
A number of political parties and labour unions also staged rallies and demonstrations in the CJP’s support.
The lawyers in Hyderabad staged a token hunger strike outside the civil courts building before staging a rally which terminated outside the press club.
The rally was led by president of the Hyderabad chapter of the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) Abdul Sattar Kazi, HCBA General Secretary Allah Bachayo Soomro, president of the Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA) Abdul Aziz Sheikh and member of the Sindh Bar Council Fazal Qadir Memon.
The leaders said that nowhere in the world a chief justice had to file a petition to seek justice. Lawyers who had been in the forefront of current struggle would take it to its logical end, they said and added that the father of the nation himself was an advocate.
DEMO: Leaders of different political parties condemned the government for action against the chief justice, baton charge on opposition leaders in Islamabad and the Sindh government’s seizure of public transport vehicles to take people to Naukot where Gen Musharraf planned to address a public meeting on May 5.
District Ameer of Jamaat-i-Islami Shaikh Shaukat, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal district president Abdul Waheed Qureshi, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam's Khalid Dhamrah, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf's Dr Abdul Samad Sheikh and Rana Mehmood Ali Khan of National Labour Federation (NLF) said while addressing a demonstration outside the press club that the present agitation would gain more popularity by what they called third degree tactics of the government.
They slammed the government for seizing public transport buses, coasters, vans and trucks in different parts of the province to take people to Naukot where Gen Pervez Musharraf was scheduled to address a public meeting on May 5.
They praised the chief justice for refusing to tender his resignation and said that the government had done nothing for workers. A national labour conference would be convened in Karachi on May 12 to devise a strategy on how to take up the workers’ issues, they said.
They said that the government had still not paid dues to the SRTC workers despite their long protest. Rampant unemployment had driven scores of labourers to suicide but the government had so far remained unmoved, they said.
They blamed the government for taking dictation from the US and implementing its agenda in the country. They referred to a statement of chief minister that America was also with the government and said that America had never been with anyone as it always safeguarded its interests.
They said that the agitation would result in ousting the rulers and no general would dare seize power in future.
AWAMI TEHRIK: Around two dozen activists of Awami Tehrik who staged a separate demonstration joined the JI's protest. Party leader Roshan Ali said that his party was fully backing the lawyers’ struggle and they would not compromise on principles.
SANGHAR: Lawyers of taluka bar councils and District Bar Association (DBA) boycotted court proceedings to express solidarity with the ‘non-functional’ CJP.
NAWABSHAH: DBA members boycotted court proceedings and brought out a rally, which started from the sessions court and terminated at the press club. The protesters also burnt tyres on the road.
DADU: Lawyers boycotted court proceedings in Dadu, Sehwan, Johi, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar and Kotri on Wednesday to express solidarity with the CJP.
They also staged a rally, which started from the Court complex and terminated at the press club.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Lawyers in Naushahro Feroze, Kandiaro and Bhirya towns boycotted court proceedings. In Naushahro Feroze DBA President Arbab Ali Chandio led a rally.
KHAIRPUR: Lawyers boycotted court proceedings and observed a token hunger strike for an hour outside the sessions court building.
Later, the lawyers staged a procession, which was led by the president of Sukkur region of People’s Lawyers Forum Liaquat Shar and Pir Bachal Shah Jilani.
MIRPURKHAS: DBA members boycotted court proceedings and observed a token hunger strike in support of the ‘non-functional’ chief justice. More than 100 lawyers led by DBA President Salahuddin Panhwar marched on main roads of the city raising slogans against the government.