KARACHI/LAHORE Several political and religious parties organised demonstrations in all major cities of the country on Sunday to express solidarity with the apex court and to condemn the government for ignoring recommendations of Chief Justice of Pakistan regarding appointments in higher judiciary. In Karachi, workers of PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami scuffled during separate protests outside Karachi Press Club at the same place over the judges issue. The clash erupted when supporters of both parties chanted slogans against each other. The JI activists were holding banners and placards inscribed with pro-judiciary slogans while the Jiyalas were raising slogans in favour of President Asif Zardari. The PPP protesters occupied the venue and compelled the rivals to leave the place. In the JI protest, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti, Hameed Ullah Khan, Nasrullah Shajji and others addressed the workers. They said the NRO-tainted and corrupt leaders, after the dictatorship of Pervez Musharraf, were becoming stumbling block in the way of the independent judiciary. While addressing the PPP gathering, Farzana Baloch, Parveen Bashir, Saeed Ghani, Rashid Hussain Rabbani passed a unanimous resolution showing solidarity with Zardari and Yousuf Gilani. In Lahore, major political and religious parties organised demonstrations on Sunday to express solidarity with the apex court and to condemn the President for ignoring recommendations of Chief Justice of Pakistan regarding appointments in higher judiciary. The Jamaat-i-Islami Secretary-General Liaquat Baloch led the demonstration outside Lahore Press Club, which was largely attended by political activists. The participants were carrying party flags and placards and banners inscribed with writings in support of judiciary and against the rulers. They also chanted slogans against the rulers and in support of the judiciary. Addressing the rally, Liaquat said that the independence of the judiciary was restored in the country after a prolonged struggle in which the PPP workers also participated. But unfortunately, after the SC judgment on the NRO, the ruling junta could not tolerate an independent judiciary. He paid tributes to Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other SC judges for refusing to accept President Zardaris unconstitutional orders. He announced that the JI, in cooperation with the masses, the lawyers community and the civil society, would demonstrate that the judiciary in the country was free and independent. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf took out a rally to show solidarity with the judiciary and protest the presidency for disrespecting the Supreme Court decisions. Starting from the Singhpura Chowk, the participants of the rally marched up to the Engineering University carrying banners and placards. They were also raising slogans against President Zardari and in favour of Chief Justice of Pakistan and judiciary. A sit-in was also staged on the Grand Trunk Road for a while before dispersing. President PTI Lahore Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid and others demanded that the government immediately withdraw its decision regarding appointment of judges in the higher judiciary. They warned of an intensive protest drive if the government continued committing contempt of court by not implementing apex courts decisions. Addressing a protest demonstration, Quaid Khaksar Tehreek Dr Sabiha Arshad Al-Mashraqui urged President Zardari to avoid taking unconstitutional steps, saying a clash between judiciary and administration could prove fatal for democracy. Terming judiciary as lifeline of democracy, she urged the rulers to avoid clash between institutions. She said that independence of judiciary would not only eliminate corruption but would also improve image of the country.