Lawyers back to fire again as masses remain cool
By Makhdoom Babar

ISLAMABAD—While the masses didn't gave any reaction to the imposition of emergency in the country at all and continued their routine life business, the lawyers community opted to go back on fire again to create a CJ issue like situation once again and carried out fierce demonstrations in different part of country and vowed to continue their campaign till lifting of emergency, restoration of constitution and withdrawal of black law imposed to curb media independence.
Police baton-charged, arrested hundreds of lawyers, Political activists and human right workers challenging President Pervez Musharraf’s emergency rule from various cities of the country. In Rawalpindi the sister city of Federal Capital, Police arrested 41 lawyers and more than 40 Political workers of different Political Parties, as they demonstrated in District Kachehri, said City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi Saud Aziz while talking to this agency.
He said the arrested lawyers including President Rawalpindi Bar Association Raja Khalid Ismail and political workers have been shifted to Civil Line Police Station, adding that, Police have condoned off all the ways leading to twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. In Islamabad, roads leading to the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister Secretariat, the President House, the Parliament, the Secretariat and the diplomatic enclaves were kept closed. Barbed wires have been laid on the roads and by lanes.
According to reports received here the biggest protest was held in the Provincial Capital Lahore, where a number of lawyers were injured and 500 arrested after police launched teargas shells at protesters outside the high court. The lawyers in Lahore also arranged condemnation meeting and announced not to appear before the judges who had taken oath under Provincial Constitutional Ordinance (PCO).
The meeting urged Political leaders to join hands with lawyers till lifting of emergency and restoration of constitution in the country. Strict language and anti Government slogans were used in the meeting. During the meeting, the lawyers ousted leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) including PPP Punjab President Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi and General Secretary Ghulam Abbas when they entered in the hall.
Announcing section 144 at the moment, Police under supervision of Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Operation Aftab Ahmed Cheema baton-charged when the lawyers tired to come out from Lahore High Court Bar that injured several lawyers. Police sources told Online that more than 500 lawyers have been arrested from different rooms of bar library, washrooms and roof. Former Senior Judge Lahore High Court Fakhar-u-Nisa Khokhra and dozen senior lawyers were among the injured, as Police also adopted stubborn behaviour with them.
The 500 arrested legislators are Acting President Lahore Bar Association Mis Firdous Butt, Secretary Sarfraz Cheema and Cashier Roobi Hayat. The Police stations in Lahore were jam-packed. Earlier, the lawyers paid tribute to those judges who had refused to take fresh oath under PCO by showering petal outside their rooms. However, some judges performed their duties in their chambers and postpone some applications filed under article 199 due to suspension of the constitution.
In Karachi, the lawyers also observed strike, boycotted courts and stopped judges who had taken oath under PCO from coming into the offices. Heavy contingents of police were posted near the compounds of the courts Police have arrested more than 150 lawyers including President Karachi Bar Association Iftikhar Javed Qazi, Justice (Retd) Shafi Muhammad, Presidential candidate for Sindh High Court Bar Association Asmat Mehdi and Former Justice Rashid A Rizvi protesting outside the SHC while raids are being underway for further arrest. Earlier, an emergent of Pakistan Bar Council and SHC bar council was held in premises of SHC in which it was decided that three day mourning would be observed against emergency rule. The meeting strongly condemned the arrest of lawyers around the country and Police baton charge on them in Lahore high Court. The participants in the meeting made it clear we will do everything for the restoration of the constitution of the Pakistan in its true sense. They said they would not appear before the judges who had taken oath under PCO.
Talking to media men, President Singh High Court Bar Association Akhtar Hussain said the judges appointed under PCO have no legal backing and we will not accept them. “November 3rd action of the Chief of army Staff was a direct attack on the judiciary and we will die but restore the respect of judiciary”, he pledged. Lawyers in Peshawar also observed strike against the impositions of emergency in the country and shut rooms of those judges who had taken oath under PCO for everyone. During crackdown against lawyers, Police have arrested more than 30.
General body of Peshawar High Court bar association in an emergent meeting presided over by senior lawyer Abdul Razzaq strongly condemned the imposition of state of emergency and arrest of lawyers throughout the country. The meeting demanded Government to take back PCO. The meeting has announced strike of registry Brach till unidentified period of time while district court and lower court will shut for one week.
Senior lawyer Abdul Razzaq warned lawyers to obey the order of association otherwise their licences will be cancelled. There was also clash between Police and lawyers outside the Peshawar high court. During briefing to media men, senior lawyer Abdul Razzaq, Syed Attique Shah, Barrister Waqar, Gulab Shah and Fida Gull announced to boycott those judges who had taken oath under PCO.
Committees have been constituted which will run movement against imposition of emergency in the country, they said, adding that, student, transporters, teachers, professors, doctors and people related to all walk of life should come out to the streets against unconstitutional steps of the President. They warned of bitter consequences if they were not allowed to protest peacefully.
In Quetta: Police have arrested 15 lawyers, as they tried to come out from district court. Earlier, the law enforcement agencies forcefully locked doors of district court. In Gujranwala: at least one hundred and seventy protesters have been nabbed when they were protesting in the district court against declaration of emergency. As per details, lawyers and members of civil society tried to enter in the premises of the district court but police arrested them amid scuffle. Police have also arrested President of Gujranwala Bar Association Riaz Hussain. Litigation process has been completely stopped and court remained close. Meanwhile, the joint meeting of Balochistan Bar Association, Balochistan High Court Association and Balochistan Bar Council was presided over by Jamal Mandokhail.
The meeting decided that no lawyer would appear in the courts till the release of lawyers around the country and strict action will be taken against lawyer who try to enter in the court. The meeting further decided that the joint meeting of General body of all lawyer organizations would be held today (Tuesday) to be presided over by President Balochistan Bar Association Baz Muhammad Kakar.