LAHORE, Nov 06: In a high-level contact between leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami and PML (N) both the sides unanimously agreed to step up the agitation against the Martial Law and to extend full support to the lawyers' community besides felicitating the judges who were dismissed and detained after refusing to take oath under PCO.

In telephonic contact leaders of both parties condemned the torture and manhandling of judges and lawyers, said a JI media cell press release. They decided to issue directives to the workers extend full support to the detained lawyers, visiting them in jails, supporting their families outside, and take measures for securing their release.

They emphasized that judges refusing the PCO and the lawyers were national heroes, and it was the duty of the nation to protect them from the victimization of Musharraf regime.

They also decided to hold public receptions for the judges rejecting PCO and praising their sense of duty and honesty at the national level. Both the leaders criticized those judges who took oath under PCO, particularly the judges of Federal Shariat Court, saying those had actually earned a bad name for Shariat. They stressed that instead of Shariat Court those judges had now become judges of 'Musharraf Court.'

They also warned the officials of district administrations and Police against highhandedness against the lawyers and political workers, and directed the workers to collect data of such officials who will be held accountable after the return of democratic rule.

They also condemned the cubs on media, particularly the TV channels and the police cordoning of the press clubs and newspapers offices in different cities, adding that it exposed the real face of the so-called democratic regime of Gen Musharraf.

The press release said the leaderships of both the parties (JI and PML – N) agreed that lawyers' community should not be left alone at this testing time, and should be extended full support in shape of assistance for securing release, providing moral support by visiting the detained lawyers in jails and taking care of their families. (#)


                                              ---------------------------------------------