http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\03\story_3-11-2008_pg11_1
Black day’: Lawyers march on Islamabad today
* IDBA general secretary says sacked CJP to lead rally but won’t address participants before reaching destination * PML-N, JI and PTI promise participation
By Atif Khan
ISLAMABAD: The capital’s lawyers on Sunday put the finishing touches to arrangements for marking the first anniversary of the November 3 sacking of chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and suspension of the Constitution by the then army chief, General Pervez Musharraf.The lawyers’ National Coordination Council (NCC), which took charge of the struggle for sacked judges’ early restoration following Pakistan Bar Council’s (PBC) detachment, has announced to observe November 3 as black day.Aitzaz Ahsan heads the council, which consists of nationwide bars, while Sardar Asmatullah Khan is its secretary.Amid the government’s reported refusal to the holding of protest on the Constitution Avenue, the lawyers have voiced determination to converge on the road, which houses Supreme Court and Parliament, for superior judiciary’s return to the November 2, 2007, position.General Secretary of Islamabad District Bar Association (IDBA) Riasat Ali Azad told Daily Times that a mammoth rally on the Constitution Avenue on Monday would prove that the struggle for sacked judges, including Iftikhar Chaudhry, was not dead. He said the lawyers were going all-out to bring big crowds of people from all walks of life to Islamabad.Azad said they had pleaded people’s solidarity with Iftikhar Chaudhry on Monday throughout banners and posters.He said around 300 banners had been placed at almost every intersection of the town. He said three trucks would carry food and water for the rally participants.He said under the plan, Iftikhar Chaudhry would lead the rally by riding in a four-wheel vehicle but wouldn’t address the participants before reaching final destination.Azad said the city traders had promised participation in the protest.NCC Secretary Sardar Asmatullah said local leadership of the PML-N, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had confirmed massive participation of their workers in the rally.He said Anjum Aqeel of the PML-N, Mian Aslam of the JI and Malik Muneer and Zahid Kazmi of the PTI were in constant contact with him on the rally arrangements.Asmatullah said PASBAN, an NGO, would provide 15 cauldrons to prepare food for the rally participants. He said the lawyers would confront lawyers if they were denied entry to the Constitution Avenue.He said representatives of the country’s 250 bar councils had confirmed their participation and they’re expecting participation of a large number of people, mostly from southern Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP, in the rally.He said lawyers would reach the house of Iftikhar Chaudhry at 9:30am before leaving for Rawalpindi district courts via Margalla Road, 7th Avenue, Islamabad Highway and Airport Chowk.He said the caravan would use Murree Road, Kashmir Highway, Aabpara, Embassy Road and Radio Pakistan Chowk to reach outside the Supreme Court building.He said the city administration had requested lawyers to restrict their protest to Parade Square but the caravan would reach in front of Supreme Court at all cost.
* IDBA general secretary says sacked CJP to lead rally but won’t address participants before reaching destination * PML-N, JI and PTI promise participation
By Atif Khan
ISLAMABAD: The capital’s lawyers on Sunday put the finishing touches to arrangements for marking the first anniversary of the November 3 sacking of chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and suspension of the Constitution by the then army chief, General Pervez Musharraf.The lawyers’ National Coordination Council (NCC), which took charge of the struggle for sacked judges’ early restoration following Pakistan Bar Council’s (PBC) detachment, has announced to observe November 3 as black day.Aitzaz Ahsan heads the council, which consists of nationwide bars, while Sardar Asmatullah Khan is its secretary.Amid the government’s reported refusal to the holding of protest on the Constitution Avenue, the lawyers have voiced determination to converge on the road, which houses Supreme Court and Parliament, for superior judiciary’s return to the November 2, 2007, position.General Secretary of Islamabad District Bar Association (IDBA) Riasat Ali Azad told Daily Times that a mammoth rally on the Constitution Avenue on Monday would prove that the struggle for sacked judges, including Iftikhar Chaudhry, was not dead. He said the lawyers were going all-out to bring big crowds of people from all walks of life to Islamabad.Azad said they had pleaded people’s solidarity with Iftikhar Chaudhry on Monday throughout banners and posters.He said around 300 banners had been placed at almost every intersection of the town. He said three trucks would carry food and water for the rally participants.He said under the plan, Iftikhar Chaudhry would lead the rally by riding in a four-wheel vehicle but wouldn’t address the participants before reaching final destination.Azad said the city traders had promised participation in the protest.NCC Secretary Sardar Asmatullah said local leadership of the PML-N, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had confirmed massive participation of their workers in the rally.He said Anjum Aqeel of the PML-N, Mian Aslam of the JI and Malik Muneer and Zahid Kazmi of the PTI were in constant contact with him on the rally arrangements.Asmatullah said PASBAN, an NGO, would provide 15 cauldrons to prepare food for the rally participants. He said the lawyers would confront lawyers if they were denied entry to the Constitution Avenue.He said representatives of the country’s 250 bar councils had confirmed their participation and they’re expecting participation of a large number of people, mostly from southern Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP, in the rally.He said lawyers would reach the house of Iftikhar Chaudhry at 9:30am before leaving for Rawalpindi district courts via Margalla Road, 7th Avenue, Islamabad Highway and Airport Chowk.He said the caravan would use Murree Road, Kashmir Highway, Aabpara, Embassy Road and Radio Pakistan Chowk to reach outside the Supreme Court building.He said the city administration had requested lawyers to restrict their protest to Parade Square but the caravan would reach in front of Supreme Court at all cost.
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