MULTAN/MANDI BAHAUDDIN - To condemn the imposition of emergency rule by former dictator Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007, the black coats observed a complete strike on a call of Punjab Bar Council here on Saturday. No lawyer appeared in any court as a result of which the hearing of all cases was adjourned. The members of district and high court bars held protest meetings and demonstrations. They shouted slogans against Musharraf. They asked the government to take action against generals involved in unconstitutional act of suspending judiciary and imposing emergency rule in the country.
MANDI BAHAUDDIN, the lawyers across the district observed a black day on Saturday to recall the imposition of emergency rule in the country on November 03, 2007 by the then president Pervez Musharraf and detention of Chief Justice Muhammad Iftikhar Chaudhry along with his family. The lawyers stayed away from the court proceedings. They also held meetings and condemned Musharraf for his dictatorial and unconstitutional acts of November 03.
Addressing the meeting, DBA President Matiur Rehman paid tributes to the chief justice for standing against the dictator for the cause of justice and upholding the dignity of law. He urged judges of subordinate courts to follow in the footsteps of the chief justice while deciding cases. Judges must act fearlessly and repel pressure while adjudicating the cases, he added.
On the occasion, former DBA president Sher Muhammad Gondal said the chief Justice had changed history of the country by delivering bold and historical verdicts. In the light of these verdicts, he said that a process of accountability was going on and the people who were considered as sacred cows were coming into the net of accountability. He said the Chief Justice had blocked the way of martial law and his verdicts had strengthened democracy. He called on the government to extend service of the incumbent Chief justice for the period he spent in detention which will be in the public interest.
Referring to attitude of rulers, Sher Gondal said that they and bureaucracy were looking after each other interests and they were following anti people policies. During the present rule people have been facing loadshedding, price hike, absence of public transport, terrorism and deterioration of law and order, adding that people were feeling unsecure.
This situation would not have prevailed had the government implemented SC verdicts in true spirit, he opined. Later, a rally was taken out to register protest against imposition of emergency on 03 Nov.