LAHORE - Thousands of lawyers Thursday rallied on The Mall to pay tributes to the people killed in Karachi arson on April 9 as they observed 'Shuhada Day' by staying away from the court proceedings hoisting black flags on bars' rooftops. The participation of college students wearing uniform was the significant feature of the rally. They joined lawyers' movement for the first time after the prime minister announced to restore student unions. The commitment and enthusiasm that was lacking during several previous rallies was again at its peak perhaps due to the fact that this mammoth rally could prove to be the last one as the judges are likely to be restored in next week. And the lawyers want to end their movement at high note. City lawyers held two different rallies with a large participation of political, religious and civil society organisations. Followed by the general house meetings, the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) took out the rally from Aiwan-e-Adl that joined Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA)'s rally outside Lahore High Court building. The amalgamation of both the rallies converted into a big show. The rally started marching towards Punjab Assembly Hall. Holding MQM responsible for Karachi killings, highly charged protesters were holding placards and banners inscribed with writings against MQM besides shouting slogans against it. Tehrik-e-Insaf activists also burned an effigy of MQM chief Altaf Hussain at Chairing Cross. Proceedings of both general house meetings were started with prayers for departed souls killed in Karachi. Speakers expressed their full cooperation with departed souls and pledged to continue their struggle till bringing the responsible to book. They strongly condemned Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf and MQM Chief Altaf Hussain blaming them for Karachi incidents. Other than lawyers, activists of PML-N, Jamiat Ulema Islam, Academic Staff Association of Punjab University, students of MSF from MAO College and Railway Road College, Tehrik-e-Khaksar, Jamat-e-Islami, Tehrik-e-Insaf, PMA and Concerned Citizens of Pakistan also participated in the rally. Students, wearing uniform with school bags on their shoulders, were holding portraits of Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif. Political activists were wielding their specific party flags while civil society activists were holding national flags, banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding restoration of all deposed judges. Before taking out the rally, one of the lawyers' leader Hamid Khan Advocate addressed the LHCBA's general house. He said lawyers Altaf Hussain Abbasi and Sayed Shehryar, who gave their lives on April 9 in Karachi, were very active in lawyers movement and their loss is great setback to lawyers' movement. He said lawyers struggle would continue till restoration of judiciary to its November 2 position. LHCBA President Anwar Kamal addressing the protesters at Chairing Cross thanked non-lawyers for joining the rally. He said lawyers wanted November 02 judiciary back without implication of minus one or two formula. LBA President Manzoor Qadir demanded the responsible of Karachi arson, Waziristan killings and Lal Masjid killings to be brought to book. After delivering the speeches, protesters prayed for departed souls. They also set on fire copies of FIRs lodged against lawyers for allegedly torturing former federal minister Dr Sher Afgan. They said the FIR was concocted and beyond the reality as no lawyer tortured him. After a stay of 30 minutes at the Chairing Cross, protesters returned and peacefully dispersed at GPO Chowk.