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Summary
Lawyers are observing black day across the country against former president Pervez Musharrafs action of imposing emergency on November 3, 2007, reported Dunya News. On the other hand former Supreme Court Bar Association president Ali Ahmad Kurd told Dunya News that lawyers movement had created awareness in the people. All the bar associations hoisted black flags on their offices while lawyers have also boycotted the courts. In Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP lawyers didnt appear before courts on the appeal of bar associations. Police didnt bring accused in courts while lawyers are wearing black ribbons on their arms. In Karachi, civil society and lawyers protested on MA Jinnah Road and staged a sit-in. Strict security measures had been taken and nobody was allowed entrance in bar rooms except lawyers. Supreme Court Bar Association newly elected President Qazi Anwar addressing a ceremony in Rawalpindi said that corrupt rulers would also be tried besides giving protection to judiciary. Lahore High Court Bar General House condemned November 3 actions. Peshawar High Court and lower courts hoisted black flags. PHC Bar President under the chair of Mian Attique Shah demanded that Musharraf should be tried. In Multan, lawyers didnt appear in courts and protested against NRO. Balochistan High Court Bar and Balochistan Bar Association also observed black day against November 3 steps. Sindh High Court, Malir Court and City courts also remained closed. Separately, Supreme Court Bar Association former president Ali Ahmad Kurd told Dunya News that lawyers movement had created awareness about constitution among people. He maintained that lawyers movement told people about their rights, adding that now no dictator would dare to repeat the steps taken on November 3 and bringing NRO. Kurd asserted that lawyers would keep struggling unless corruption from the lower courts ends and people are given their rights. On November 3, 2007 General Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule, suspended the constitution and sacked superior court judges who refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order. The emergency was lifted on December 15, 2007.It was followed by a long drawn battle between the president and the civil society which badly mauled Musharrafs image and forced him to doff army uniform on November 28, 2007 and transfer military powers to the newly appointed COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.Musharraf was later forced from the office of the president and was replaced by incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari.
