Interior Sindh up in protest against the suspension of chief justice

Like other parts of the country the legal fraternity also staged protest demonstrations in interior Sindh against the suspension of chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as the Supreme Judicial Council (SCJ) resumed hearing of the presidential reference against the non-functional chief justice on Tuesday.The lawyers took out protest rallies and boycotted court proceedings in Hyderabad to express solidarity with the non-functional chief justice.They boycotted proceedings of the high court and civil courts in the district and took out a rally to the Hyderabad press club. They were carrying black flags and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of Justice Chaudhry. They demanded withdrawal of the presidential reference against the non-functional chief justice. Qazi Abdul Sattar, Allah Bachayo Soomro, Fazal Qadir Memon, Chaudry Bashir and others led the rally.Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami also took out a protest rally on Tuesday evening. Led by JI’s senior leader Prof Ghafoor Ahmed the rally participants marched from Hyder Chowk to the Hyderabad press club. They were protesting against the suspension of the chief justice and detention of political leaders.MMA’s Hyderabad chapter president Abdul Waheed Qureshi, Aftab Khanzada of the PPP, Afzal Gujar of the PML-N, Samad Sheikh of the PTI, Taj Muhammad Nahion of the JUI-F and others addressed the protesters.Our Jamshoro correspondent adds: A large number of lawyers from Jamshoro, Kotri and Sehwan participated in a protest rally called by the District Bar Association Jamshoro.The rally, which was taken out from the bar office, culminated at the main Kotri Chowk. The protesting lawyers set ablaze their black coats to register their protest against the presidential reference.A sizeable number of the bar members hailing from Jamshoro, Kotri and Sehwan gathered at the bar office Kotri in the morning. Later, they reached the main Kotri Chowk in the form of a rally.The lawyers expressed complete solidarity with non-functional chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chuadhry. They critisised the Sindh chief minister for disguising “Tapedars, Beldars and Chowkidars” of the provincial departments” as lawyers during his address to a so-called lawyers’ convocation in Hyderabad.They said it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that the lawyer coat was dishounered by the chief executive of a province. The lawyers also boycotted court proceedings.Our Sukkur correspondent adds: Like other districts of the province the lawyers’ community of Sukkur also registered their protest on Tuesday against the suspension of the chief justice of Pakistan.They boycotted court proceedings, took out a rally, staged a protest demonstration and formed a human chain in front of the local press club.The protesting lawyers, led by Qurban Malano and President MMA Sindh Asadullah Bhutto, took out a rally from the district and sessions court. They chanted slogans against the government and marched on the main thoroughfares of the city. They finally gathered in front of the local press club and staged a demonstration.Addressing the lawyers, Asadullah Bhutto, Imdad Awan, Qurban Malano and others asked the government to withdraw the reference against chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and reinstate him honourably.They also called upon the legal fraternity and the opposition parties to launch a decisive anti-government movement to rid the people of the present rulers.Later, the lawyers set ablaze their coats and formed a human chain, while some of them also observed a token hunger strike on the premises of Sindh High Court, Sukkur bench.Meanwhile, scores of PPP workers led by MNA Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, MPA Dr Nasrullah Baloch and other politicians also staged a protest demonstration followed by a sit-in outside the press club against the suspension of the chief justice of Pakistan.Some activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf also staged a similar protest demonstration.Our Thatta correspondent adds: On the call of the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), the lawyers' community on Tuesday protested against the suspension of the chief justice of Pakistan.The lawyers staged a demonstration in front of the district court building and expressed solidarity with the non-functional chief justice and demanded his immediate reinstatement. President Thatta District Bar Association Izhar Ahmed Hashmani led the demonstration. They also boycotted court proceedings across the district.Our Khairpur correspondent adds: Members of the Khairpur District Bar Association on Tuesday took out a rally to protest the presidential reference against the chief justice of Pakistan. The lawyers also staged a token hunger strike and boycotted court proceedings.
Courtesy: TN