ISLAMABAD, May 17: In a show of support for Chief Justice Chaudhary Mohammad Iftikhar, the People’s Rights Movement (PRM) and some progressive political organisations held a public rally in Karachi Company in which members of the Islamabad and Rawalpindi bars also participated.

The rally was organised under the title: “The lawyers’ movement and working people,” according to a press release issued here on Thursday.

A significant number of people attended the rally which started early evening. Besides speeches made by various individuals, a play and revolutionary hymns were also presented.

Speaking on the occasion, Chaudhry Akram of the Islamabad Bar Association pointed out that the movement against the “suspension” of Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar must be transformed into a wider people’s movement against dictatorship and for the establishment of a genuine democracy.

He said the May 12 events in Karachi had galvanised a large number of ordinary working people against the regime and there was a great deal of anger that needed to be harnessed to topple the present government.

Mr Akram said the Karachi carnage proved that the government was willing to perpetrate cold-blooded murder to maintain its grip on power.

The legal community was now committed to continuing its struggle until the restoration of genuine democracy and would not rest even if the chief justice was reinstated, he added.

Aasim Sajjad of the PRM said there was an urgent need to learn from the history of popular movements in Pakistan. He said that time and again people had risen against governments and toppled them but had not been able to replace the larger system of power that remained intact in this country.

According to him, it would be useless to working class people if Gen Musharraf was replaced by another general. Instead it is now time to ask the question: Perpetual rule by the military or rule by the people?

He said in this regard it was essential that the present movement was expanded to incorporate people’s concerns about inflation, unemployment, education, health, public amenities and the overall distribution of assets in society.

During and after the rally a local SHO identified as Mr Khattak warned the rally organisers with action for breaking the law and holding a public rally.

However, the organisers were adamant that they would hold the rally and were supported by ordinary people.

Our correspondent from Chakwal adds: Members of the District Bar Association (DBA), Chakwal, on Thursday observed a complete strike and took out a rally to protest the filing of presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry over allegations of “misuse of authority”.

Charged workers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, who were led by Ayaz Amir and Liaquat Ali Khan, showered the rally participants with petals amid slogans against the government and President Pervez Musharraf.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) activists led by the district president, Sardar Nawab Khan, also joined the rally.

Sahibzada Abdul Qadoos, Mehmoodul Hassan and Amir Khan along with more than 200 workers of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal also marched with the rally.

When the rally reached Bhaun Chowk it converted into a big public meeting that was addressed by Ghulam Jellani, Minhas Raja, Asad Raza, Tariq Mehmood, Sardar Nawaz Khan, Mehmood Akhter, Haroon Irshad Janjua and Punjab Bar Council member Hassan Raza Pasha.

The protesters expressed complete solidarity with Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and vowed to continue their struggle till his reinstatement. They also condemned brutal killing of Supreme Court additional registrar Hamad Raza.