By IANS
Karachi : Two leading lawyers' bodies have refused to call off a rally here Saturday in support of sacked Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, saying it was not a political event but part of their ongoing campaign to protect the judiciary's independence.
The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Sindh Bar Council (SBC) also urged the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) to push back its own rally scheduled for Saturday in the interest of maintaining peace in the city, Dawn reported Friday.
The MQM leads Sindh's ruling coalition government and also supports the federal government of President Pervez Musharraf.
"The aim of our peaceful rally is to get the judiciary's independence restored," PBC member Abul Inam said at a press conference here Thursday.
"No one can stop citizens from raising their voice for their democratic rights," he maintained, warning that cases would be lodged against those who tried to create trouble at the rally.
Meanwhile, Karachi Police late Thursday removed reception camps set up in various parts of the city for the chief justice's rally.
Capital City Police Officer Azhar Farooqui told Dawn that the reception camps were removed on a home department order.
Sindh's adviser for home affairs Wasim Akhtar said the reception camps were removed irrespective of party affiliations.
"They were set up illegally by the political parties as no prior permission was sought," he added.