Nawaz Sharif says good-bye to Long March?

Nawaz Sharif says good-bye to Long March?


Friday, February 13, 2009
Lawyers didn’t consult us on sit-in: Nawaz

By our correspondent

LAHORE: PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said the federal government did not take the PML-N into confidence before making any decision in tackling the Mumbai issue. He was talking to reporters after his meeting with US envoy Richard Holbrooke. He criticised the PPP government for further complicating the probe issue and said it should take clear action against the responsible and avoid keeping people in the dark. On the issue of the lawyers’ long march, he said the lawyers’ community had not taken the PML-N leadership into confidence while announcing the schedule of their sit-in in Islamabad. He said the PML-N was committed to its stance that they would support the long march. (The News)

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Islamabad sit-in

Lawyers slam PML-N’s indecision Friday, February 13, 2009 By Wajih Ahmad Sheikh LAHORE: The lawyers’ community on Thursday strongly condemned the PML-N leadership’s surprising silence over the issue of joining their sit-in protest in Islamabad on March 16. The legal fraternity held its routine protest rally on Thursday on The Mall in which they openly criticised the PML-N leadership for its indecision to participate in their sit-in. Majority of the lawyers were of the opinion that PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif had linked their support to the lawyers community conditional with the disqualification case pending in the SC. Lawyers speaking at the general house meeting of the Lahore Bar Association also asked the PML-N leaders to take a clear decision whether they will join the sit-in or not.After holding the general house meeting, lawyers of the LBA marched from the Aiwan-e-Adl to the GPO Chowk where they were joined by lawyers of the Lahore High Court Bar Association. They were chanting slogans against the government and in favour of deposed chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry. Later, the rally started march towards the Faisal Chowk, Charing Cross. The activists of PML-N, Jamaet-e-Islami, Pakhtoon Khawa Milli Awami Party, Tehrik-e-Insaf, Tehrik-e-Khaksaar, Labour Party and Jamiat Ulema Pakistan also attended the rally. Activists of political parties where chanting slogans in favour of their respective leaderships and their parties. After reaching the Faisal Chowk, the lawyers’ leaders delivered speeches wherein they pledged to demonstrate a historic long march and sit-in that would continue till the restoration of the chief justice and other sacked judges. They said the other segments of the society, including traders, doctors, engineers, students and political parties, were united on the point of reinstatement of the sacked chief justice and his colleagues. They warned the government against creating hurdles in the way of participants of the long march because the flood of people would sweep them away. He said the people who think that lawyers could be intimidated by launching a crackdown, live in a fool’s paradise. They said ‘black coats’ had rendered sacrifices in the past and were ready to give more. After staying half an hour at the Faisal Chowk, the protesters peacefully dispersed while the traffic on The Mall and its adjoining roads remained suspended for more than an hour. (The News)