ISLAMABAD: Tens of Thousands of participants of the long-march Friday gathered here at the Parade Avenue for the restoration of the deposed judges of the country’s superior courts and removal of the President Pervez Musharraf.

The participants of the long-march organized by legal fraternity include lawyers, political workers with their party’s flags, mostly of the PML-N, Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, representatives of the civil society organizations, representatives of the ex-Servicemen Society, families of the missing persons and general public. Interestingly some activists of the PPP were also seen waving party’s flags and portraits of the Benazir Bhutto and deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Addressing the gathering which according to the official sources were about 20,000 at the Parade Avenue when the long-march was still crossing Rawalpindi city towards Islamabad, the Spokesperson of the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry Advocate Ather Minallah vowed to stage the sit-in protest until restoration of the deposed judges and removal of the President Pervez Musharraf.

While recalling the late PPP chairperson Benazir Butto’s visit to the deposed Chief Justice residence when he was under house arrest, he regretted that the late PPP chairperson had announced in front of the media that her Chief Justice is Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry but it is deplorable that the PPP’s government is now making delaying tactics in restoring the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, he added.

He said that the people of the country know the restoration of all the judges and removal of the President Pervez Musharraf but we have to be peaceful and will not take law of the land in hand.

Earlier upon reaching in the Federal Capital, earlier, the participants of the long-march was accorded warm welcome by the local workers of the political parties, civil society organizations, traders and general public. They set up camps Faizabad, Zero Point, Aabpara Market and other chowks of the federal capital to welcome participants the caravan where they were also served with cold drinks, beverages and foods.
Likewise this, reception camps were set up at the Murree Road, Rawalpindi by different political parties and organizations.

The roads of twin cities were covered with welcoming banners inscribed slogans in favor of judiciary, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other sacked Judges and removal of the President Pervez Musharraf.

Traffic plying between twin cities was low as per routine. Near 11:00 a.m there was there was less rush of vehicles at Murree road and Highway. Anyhow, business activities remained suspended at some markets, whether it was due to Friday or to express solidarity with lawyer.

Constitutional Avenue has been completely sealed- off after putting containers on its connecting roads as it has been declared as red zone.
Meanwhile, government has completely sealed-off the roads leading towards Parliament House and Constitutional Avenue. The law enforcement agencies have made extra ordinary security arrangements as well as across the city in order to thwart any untoward incident.

The security agencies have deployed 4000 Islamabad police, 800 AJK police, 1000 NWFP police and 600 Frontier Constabulary (FC) constables in the city as well as Rangers which is already present in the city would come in action if any unpleasant situation occurred, a senior officials of Islamabad police said.

The Official said that around 16 walk through gates have been installed at the venue where the long march would culminate. “ At least 24 police commandoes would guard the stage carrying the bullet proof dais where the deposed Chief Justice and other guest would address the participants of the march”, he said.

The officials said that obstacles have also been erected between the dais and seating plan set for the participants. “ No one except whose names have been forwarded to the security agencies would be allowed to cross the obstacles”, he said.
He said that the venue has been covered with barbed wires besides the siege of security agencies.

The officials said that the security officials in plainclothes have been deputed at the venue to have a close eye on the suspects. Moreover around one dozen close circuit cameras have been installed around the venue of the long march.

The officials said that all the participants entering the venue would have to go through the walk through gates to help the security agencies to ensure security. The security officials deployed at the different entrances of Red Zone to check all those government employees who are working in the offices in the limits of the zone.

Moreover a heavy contingent of police has been deputed on the welcome camps set up at Faizabad, Zero point, Abapara, and other areas. Patrolling around the town was intensified and police pickets are erected on the way leading to the venue.

All the roads leading to the red zone were blocked by the law enforcement agencies by placing barricades and containers. Police also covered the red zone through barbed wire.
Police officials present at the one of the pickets said that strict checking was observed those entering the capital city. The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has deployed 144 traffic police official in red zone and 141 in other areas on the occasion.

Meanwhile, all the government hospitals in the city were put on high alert to meet any untoward incident occurred. The hospital administrations have arranged separate beds, stretchers and necessary equipments required in accordance with situation.

Further doctors’ special teams were formed at the hospitals as well as around the venue of the long march.

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