KARACHI, May 12: The legal fraternity of the city on Monday observed a ‘black day’ in protest against the failure of the government to arrest elements involved in the May 12, 2007 carnage and paid rich tribute to people who scarified their lives for the restoration of the judiciary.

Lawyers, leaders of the Jamaat-i-Islami and representatives of non-governmental organisations took out a procession from the Karachi Bar Association office. The participants of the rally marched on different roads, including M. A. Jinnah Road, and arrived at the Karachi Press Club, where a demonstration was staged.

Surrounded by heavy police contingents, deployed since morning around the City Courts and Malir Courts, participants of the rally carried placards, banners and flags while raising anti-Musharraf and pro-judiciary slogans.

Speaking at the press club gathering, the president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, Rasheed A. Razvi, said nothing could weaken the lawyers’ resolve to continue their struggle till the reinstatement of all deposed judges.

He reminded those occupying the citadels of power that it was because of the lawyers’ sacrifices that democracy was restored in the country.

Describing May 12, 2007 as ‘the darkest day’ in Pakistan’s history, he recalled that Federal Information Minister Sherry Rehman’s car was also hit.

Mr Razvi said the lawyers of Karachi had frustrated some quarters’ schemes to divide them, and they were united and committed to the restoration of the judiciary.

He also condemned the April 9 violence against the lawyers and urged the government to immediately arrest those involved in the May 12 and April 9 incidents and bring them to justice.

KBA president Mahmoodul Hasan said the Nov 3, 2007 steps of Pervez Musharraf were illegal and unconstitutional, and all the deposed judges had automatically been reinstated on Dec 15 when the constitution was restored, but they were barred from resuming their offices and now it was the responsibly of the new government to issue an executive order to enable the judges to attend their offices.

Malir Bar Association President Amanullah Yousufzai, KBA general secretary Naeem Qureshi and member of the Sindh Bar Council Salahuddin Gandapur also spoke.

They said all lawyers were ready to give scarifices to make the ongoing struggle successful, and vowed to continue it till the reinstatement of all judges. They also condemned the deployment of police and Rangers on the Karachi and Malir bars premises.

Earlier, speaking at a lawyers’ gathering at the City Courts, Jamaat-i-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch strongly criticised the ruling coalition partners for announcing that they would accommodate the PCO judges once the judiciary was restored to its Nov 2 position, and said they would not accept the PCO judges at any cost.

“The two major ruling partners are trying to stop the lawyers’ ongoing struggle by holding meetings in Dubai and London, extending deadlines for the restoration of the Nov 2 judiciary, but the All Parties Democratic Movement would stand with the lawyers in their struggle for the reinstatement of all deposed judges.

“The new government must disregard American pressure and restore the judiciary to its pre-PCO position and remove Prevez Musharraf as he had got himself elected illegally when the Supreme Court was likely to rule against his candidature, when he imposed a state of emergence in the country,” he added.

He slammed the PPP for proposing a constitutional package for the restoration of the judiciary and said Asif Ali Zardari could not succeed in his ‘game’.

The APDM, he said, would decide its future course of action at its meeting to be held on May 14 and would launch a struggle with the lawyers for the restoration of the pre-PCO judiciary, supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law.

Mr Baloch paid homage to people who laid down their lives on May 12 and April 9 to uphold the rule of law and for the restoration of the independent judiciary.

Referring to the MQM’s victory in Feb 18 elections in the urban areas of Sindh, he said it was not a mandate of the people but a mandate of ‘fake stamps’.

Meanwhile, legal proceedings remained suspended at the City and the Malir district courts as the lawyers stayed away from courts while the under-trial prisoners were also not brought to the City Courts.

All business activities, including stationery shops, cabins, stamp vendors and canteens on the City Courts premises remained closed as the police and other law-enforcement agencies had cordoned off the City Courts and locked the main entrances while heavy contingents of police were also deployed at Malir Courts.