RAWALPINDI: Thousands of lawyers and political workers in the Long March have reached Rawalpindi from where they will march toward Islamabad.

Cheering crowds turned out in towns along the route to welcome the cavalcade of around 400 cars and buses, which left Lahore late Thursday.

Security officials said 6,000 paramilitary troops and police were deployed in the federal capital ahead of the arrival of the lawyers, who say they will stage a sit-in outside parliament to press the government to restore the judges.

Lawyers will stay at Liquat Bagh in Rawalpindi. The President of Supreme Court Bar Association, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan is accompanied by Ali Ahmad Kurd, Hammad Khan, PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar and others.

Upon reaching River Sawan Bridge here, participants of the Long March were accorded warm welcome. The people of Rawalpindi gave the Long March participant a standing ovation. Alternate arrangements were made for city traffic. Due to the strength of participants of the Long March, the Long March is expected to reach Islamabad by this evening. The participants of Long March will travel on feet after entering Islamabad.

Constitutional Avenue has been completely sealed- off after putting containers on its connecting roads.

The caravans of lawyers reaching from different parts of the country and Azad Kashmir started gathering outside Parliament House. The convoys of political parties have also joined lawyers’ caravans.

Meanwhile, government has completely sealed-off the roads leading towards Parliament House and Constitutional Avenue. Police contingents have been deployed at the entry routes of Islamabad and participants would allow reaching at Parade Avenue. GEO/AAJ

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