Lawyers' movement gains momentum

LAHORE - PML-N continued to participate in lawyers' movement for judges' reinstatement as on Thursday Punjab Excise & Taxation Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman and MPA Nazia Raheel joined lawyers' rally on The Mall along with scores of party workers. Around three dozens of MSF students from MAO College joined the lawyers at Aiwan-e-Adal courts while holding PML-N flags. They were chanting anti-Musharraf and pro-deposed judges slogans.

It is pertinent to mention here that last Thursday Lahore Bar Association president Manzoor Qadir had demanded the PML-N not to pay lip service but join their protests along with their activists.  First time in the city, considerable activists of Pakhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party also joined the lawyers' rally by wielding their party flags. District secretary Mubeen Khan Mohmand was leading them.

Activists of Tehrik-e-Insaf, Tehrik-e-Khaksar, Jamat-e-Islami, Labour Party, Jamiat Ulema Islam, Concerned Citizens of Pakistan and Women Action Forum also joined the rally in considerable numbers and marched from Aiwan-e-Adal to Punjab Assembly Hall while holding placards and banners inscribed with quotations demanding restoration of sacked judges and removal of President Musharraf.

A new momentum was witnessed among lawyers Thursday after rumours that Musharraf was quitting the Army House. Large number of lawyers as compare to their previous rallies joined the rally and were shouting full-throat slogans against Musharraf.

Traders of Hall Road market showered rose petals at the protesters as they were passing from the Regal Chowk towards Punjab Assembly Hall. As usual a pick up carrying drinking water bottles was moving with the protesters to provide them water.