Re: Protesters, police clash in Pakistan capital
Lawyers’ protest spills onto roads
RAWALPINDI: Around 500 lawyers held a peaceful demonstration at Katcheri Chowk to demand the reinstatement of the sacked judiciary. Police encircled the venue and the protest broke up peacefully upon a request by City Police Officer (CPO) Saud Aziz. During the state of emergency, the lawyers were forced to protest within court boundaries by the police. Now that the emergency has been lifted, the lawyers managed to rally outside the court. Lawyer Shahbaz Ahmed Rajput said the lawyers were entitled to hold demonstrations similar to those of political parties during the days of elections. He said the government should remove the police from the courts. Separately, about 30 female lawyers sat in a hunger strike camp that was led by Anjuman Ara. According to Rawalpindi District Bar Association (RDBA) instructions, they boycotted the courts for three hours. Earlier, the RDBA general body passed a resolution against the “implementation of American agenda in Pakistan”. They said America wanted access to national installations and Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. “The Americans are saying that they have a right to invade Pakistan’s Tribal Areas to arrest Osama Bin Laden, which is wrong,” said the resolution. The RDBA vowed to continue its struggle and eradicate all barriers in its path. They said the RDBA was an inspiration for their colleagues all over the country. They demanded release of all detained lawyers. They also condemned the harassment of journalists and lawyers by government agencies. staff report