Karachi: Lawyers fraternity of Karachi, following call of Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association would observe a complete strike and boycott of court proceedings on Wednesday, on the occasion of 9th hearing of Presidential Reference filed against Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry before Supreme Judicial Council in Islamabad. Lawyers would not appear in Sindh High Court, Special Courts, including Anti Terrorism Courts, Accountability Courts, City Courts and Malir Court, hold general body meetings and observe a token hunger strike. Members of Karachi Bar Association would take out a rally from City Court Building led by its President Iftikhar Javed Qazi. Members of Sindh High Court Bar Association and Malir Bar Association would join the rally at the SHC. Mode of protest and final destination of the rally would be decided in the next general body meeting to be held on Wednesday morning.
Political and religious parties, trade unions, NGOs and student organization were also invited to join the lawyers’ rally and take part in their movement for the independence of the judiciary and reinstatement of the CJP. KBA general body meeting also endorsed the decision of KBA executive committee about participation of political parties in their movement.
All major opposition political alliances including Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) were expected to join the rally, whereas ARD had already announced to hold its separate protest rally on Wednesday.—Agency