Lawyers plan new boycott drive
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has decided to observe full boycott superior courts for restoration of independent judiciary, reinstatement of deposed chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other fellow judges.
The lawyers of Sindh however have been allowed to appear before the courts in bail cases and boycott of subordinate courts will be observed on Thursday only.
SCBA executive committee took this decision on Friday. The meeting voiced grave concern over the detention of their family members along with deposed judges and character assassination of chief justice of Pakistan on the basis of a document, which was rejected by the Supreme Court. The participants of the meeting also expressed dismay on indifference of international community and human rights organizations on this matter. .
Addressing the press conference later Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan told “ we have decided to boycott fully the judges who have taken oath under PCO on February in order to dispel impression of negative propaganda on the part of government that lawyers movement had subsided. However no boycott will be made of lower courts keeping in view the problems of people.
Replying to a question he told “ we can fully paralyze the judicial system by boycotting the courts but judges of subordinate courts had not taken oath under PCO. The bail cases stay orders and remands pending in lower courts are of public importance, therefore, we don’t want to add to the miseries of people, he added.
Responding to a question he said if national action committee approved decision of strike, then its effective implementation would be ensured. Aitizaz Ahsan told camps would be set up in all bar associations and judges colonies against the detention of their family members along with house arrested deposed judges. Aitizaz told he would go to Naudero today to offer Fateha for Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and condole with Asif Zardari and others. President Supreme Court Bar Association Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan has said terrorism will go with major chunk if president Pervez Musharraf steps down.
“ I say brother Musharraf, please quit your office as with his departure 80 percent terrorism will go. We will then sit across the negotiating table and set right the thing. We will carry out military strike wherever it is needed too as we have not enrolled army to confine them within barracks, he said this while addressing Lahore High Court Bar Association here Friday on expiry of 3 months detention.
Lauding the role of media and civil society in the campaign for the independence of judiciary he said media was now under stringent curbs. But media persons were discharging their national obligations for the independence of judiciary and constitution.