Expressing fury: Lawyers, PTI activists protest NATO attacks

Demand blockage of supply lines, revision of policy.

ISLAMABAD:

Expressing their anger over the recent attacks by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) on a military checkpost near the Pak-Afghan border, the lawyers and political parties of the twin cities on Monday observed a black day and held protest rallies. They termed the airstrikes, in which 24 security personnel lost their lives, as an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty.

The call for protest strike was given by Pakistan Bar Council. Responding to which the lawyers from the district and high courts of Rawalpindi and Islamabad completely boycotted court proceedings.

Hoisting black flags, the lawyers held a protest demonstration on the court premises. They also called upon a general body meeting, in which they passed a unanimous resolution in favour of Pakistan Army.

The lawyers asked the government to block Nato supplies permanently, adding that the frequency of such attacks had made the entire situation “highly suspicious”.

“The time has come for Pakistan to take serious action against them. Repeated attacks followed by insincere apologies is not tolerable,” said Jawad, a lawyer.

In Rawalpindi, Kutchery Chowk served as the centre stage where the lawyers from district courts held a protest. Speaking at the occasion, Rawalpindi District Bar Association President Malik Jawad Khalid said, “This is an attack on our sovereignty. Pakistan should review its policy [of war on terrorism].”

Similarly in Islamabad, the lawyers gathered outside the District courts and staged a protest demonstration.

Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHBC) President Chaudhry Ashraf Gujjar condemned the Nato strike, saying that Pakistan had paid a heavy price by allying itself with the US on the war on terrorism. “After sacrificing thousands of officers and even more civilians, this is how they are paying us back,” he said.

‘Fruit of subservience’

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Islamabad chapter also held a protest against the Nato attacks.

Addressing the protesters, PTI women’s wing president Fauzia Kasuri said that the incident is a clear violation of all international laws and is a result of the unpopular policies of a subservient government.

The protesters expressed anger at the violation of Pakistani sovereignty and demanded of the government to withdraw its support for the ‘unjust war on terror’. The protesters included a large number of youth as well as women.

The party’s media coordinator Sulaiman Malik said that it is not a mistake since Nato has been provided coordinates of all Pakistani border checkposts.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2011.