LAHORE - Following the call of the National Coordination Council, the lawyers on Thursday held their weekly protest rally on The Mall with participation of large number of political workers of various parties and civil society in favour of sacked judges of the superior judiciary. The protesters were chanting slogans against the government and the Chief Justice of Pakistan Abdul Hameed Dogar accusing him of favouring his daughter in getting more numbers in FSc through 'illegal' way. Prominent among the protesters was former judge of Lahore High Court Justice (r) MA Shahid Siddiqui, who denied taking oath under the PCO on November 3 last, who marched with the lawyers from Aiwan-e-Adal courts to Chairing Cross Chowk. Among others were activists of PML-N, Jamat-e-Islami, Pakhtoon Khawa Milli Awami Party, Tehrik-e-Insaf, Tehrik-e-Khaksar, Awami Peoples Party, Jamiat Ulema Pakistan, Pakistan Medical Association and Pakistan Teachers' Federation. Lawyers of the LHCBA and LBA after holding their general house meetings at their respective bar rooms, took out rallies from High Court and Aiwan-e-Adal. The both rallies merged at the GPO Chowk and marched to Faisal Chowk while chanting slogans against the government and in favour of sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar Ch. The rally was showered with flowers when it reached beneath the overhead bridge near Panorama Shopping Mall. Activists of political parties were chanting slogans in favour of their respective leadership and their parties. As usual a group of highly charged lawyers also chanted slogans against LHC chief justice at judges' gate of the LHC. At the Faisal Chowk, lawyers' leaders delivered speeches wherein they pledged to continue their movement till restoration of Justice Iftikhar and all other sacked judges. Leadership of the LHCBA and LBA also pledged their support to Justice Siddiqi for LHCBA upcoming election in February. Justice Siddiqi addressing the lawyers said that the government is not wiling to take stock of people's sentiments over judges' issue who wanted to see all sacked judges back to their offices. He said President Asif Zardari should not make mockery of people's genuine demands and bear in mind that he could not resist lawyers' movement as it ousted powerful Musharraf from corridors of power. Earlier addressing the general house meeting LHCBA President Anwar Kamal said though February 18 elections passed by, the lawlessness in the country still reigned supreme and November 3 illegal actions still not reversed. He added neither the bar recognised the PCO judges as the lawful judges nor the oath of Asif Ali Zardari, who took oath from a judge, who was not administered according to the constitution. Kamal said the bar did not feel compelled to seek Justice Dogar's resignation because it never accepted him as the chief justice of the Supreme Court. He added Pakistan neither needed a feudal mindset nor a military nor an international one that believed might is right. He said the lawyers want the parliament to make laws and the institutions to implement them for the welfare of the people. "If it would not happen, the lawyers would certainly ask questions," he added. He said many lawyers have not appeared before the high court and the supreme court after November 3. He added the bar would invite these lawyers and pay tribute to them for their sacrifice. Kamal said Western and European countries have sent delegations to Pakistan to find out why the lawyers movement was continuing. He added they have offered help "but we refused". Former Lahore High Court Bar Association president Hafiz Abdur Rehman Ansari said the lawyers campaign was very close to achieving its objectives. He added it was a matter of great shame for Justice Dogar that the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Education had sought his resignation. He said the Lahore High Court Bar Association should have passed a resolution, demanding Justice Dogar's resignation. He said the lawyers' movement was not based on violence and would continue till it met its' objectives. Raja Zulqernain advocate said the lawyers welcomed the statement of PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif over initiation of movement to remove Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar in case if he did not step down in a week. However, he added, nobody should expect the lawyers to follow any particular political line because their movement was solely for independence of judiciary and the rule of law.