LAHORE- The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) and Lahore Bar Association on Monday observed Black Day to condemn Karachi killings on May 12 last year and failure of talks on reinstatement of judges besides holding separate meetings of their general houses. The lawyers also took a rally from Lahore Bar Association to PMG Chowk to protest against alleged u-turn by PPP on judges issue. They stayed there for half an hour and returned to their bar. The lawyers condemned the politicians and targeted PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari for paying no attention to reinstatement of deposed judges and announced to chalk out future strategy including the Long March in the PBC meeting scheduled on May 17 in Lahore. They also demanded to impose ban on MQM which they called a fascist political party. They accused the present political leadership of the country for giving a new life to dictatorship. The lawyers raised thunderous slogan, 'Go Go Zardari-Musharraf Go'. The speakers said failure of talks on reinstatement of judges has proved the fact that Zardari camp has close links with Musharraf camp. Addressing the General House of the LHCBA over Karachi killings, the speakers condemned coalition govt for not keeping their word on judges reinstatement saying both parties befooled people and kept them in darkness for two months. The speakers also deplored Zardari's statement that he was not in favour of correcting a unconstitutional step in an unconstitutional way. They asked Zardari whether Musharraf took Constitutional steps on October 12,1999 and then on November 3, 2007. Condemning killing of innocent people in Karachi on May 12 last year, they said PPP government in Sindh inspite of ordering an independent inquiry into May 12 and March 9 incidents had included MQM in govt while Asif Zardari had joined hands with Musharraf that had made it clear that he was only power-hungry. They said it was a war between good and evil forces. Musharraf and his cronies are standing at one side while lawyers, civil society, media and democratic political forces are standing on the other. They pointed out that lawyers movement had raised awareness among the masses and awaken them from deep slumber. They strongly denounced attempts to put curbs on media saying the lawyers neither recognise present Supreme Court nor they would accept media curbs. They lawyers would stand by their media friends. They said they provided full-fledged opportunity to Parliament and coalition govt for reinstatement of judges but they have failed. Anwar Kamal in his address vowed to keep the lawyers movement alive and continue their struggle. We do not accept PCO judges because they did not abide by their oath, he added. Hamid Khan said that the lawyers should not feel dejected and should start their struggle with a new spirit. We have the option of long march, he said. He said the Pakistan Bar Council's executive body will meet on May 17 in Lahore to evolve future strategy. Ghulam Nabi Bhatti said the political leadership disappointed the whole nation by failing to restore judges. He said the lawyers were united in their struggle and the dictator would fail to create differences among lawyers ranks. Asma Jahangir said that the PPP leadership had smashed the back-bone of democracy and all the formulas about restoration of judges including minus one or minus four were just to cheat the nation. She deplored that the politicians and PCO judges are strengthening Musharraf by playing in his hands. She urged the PPP workers who had a long history of democracy not to allow the leaders to derail democracy. PPP workers suffered a lot in struggle for restoration of democracy and now they should convince their leadership not to commit political suicide, she added. The Chairman Judicial Activism Panel Azhar Siddique urged the politicians to abandon their affiliation with MQM and order investigation into Karachi killings. Ehsan Wyne deplored that the ruling coalition in which his own party is a partner has failed to redress the grievances of the people. He said the people elected these political parties with the hope that after coming into power they would solve their problems including price-hike, shortage of water and electricity but so far nothing was done and people are committing suicides. Manzoor Gillani said the lawyers leaders instead of striving for PPP ticket for National Assembly should remain with the lawyers and continue with the struggle for restoration of judges. He criticised Asif Zardari for not honouring the mandate given to his party in the election and raised slogans'Go Zardari-Musharraf Go'. Shahid Mahmood Bhatti said PPP would fulfil its promise made by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Pakistani flag would be hoisted at the residence of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Those who addressed the bar included LHCBA President Anwar Kamal, Pakistan Bar Council member Hamid Khan, Supreme Court Bar Association Vice President Ghulam Nabi Bhatti, Asma Jahangir, President Tehreek-i-Istaqlal Syed Manzoor Gillani, Awami National Party Central Secretary General Ehsan Wyne, Supreme Court Bar Association spokesman Azhar Siddique, former Secretary LHCBA Shahid Mahmood Bhatti, Malik Munsaf Awan, Liaquat Qureshi, Ahmad Awais and others.