Srinagar, July 24: The High Court Bar Association Kashmir Saturday gave ultimatum to the government saying if it would not release Bar president Mian Abdul Qayoom and General Secretary G N Shaheen by Sunday evening, they would go for hunger strike which would be extended till death.
 Former Bar president Nazir Ahmad Ronga while addressing protesting lawyers here at Saddar Court described arrest of Qayoom and Shaheen a move to silent the human rights defenders.
 He said for past 20 years lawyers kept the judicial system alive by continuing to plead cases of detainees in worst circumstances. Mian Qayoom and Shaheen were discharging the legal duties and it was not wrong to have political opinions, he said.
 Ronga said lawyers fraternity would go for the hunger strike from Monday for 12 hours, which could be extended in phased manner to 24, 48, 72 hours and finally till death.
 “We will go for fast unto death if authorities will not heed to our demands,” Ronga said. Initially Ronga will sit for hunger strike and subsequently he will be joined by other lawyers.
 Senior advocate Muhammad Amin Bhat condemned the arrest and said the arrests would force the lawyers into submission.
 The lawyers of the Islamabad Bar Association organized a protest demonstration which marched throughout the streets of the town and culminated at Lal Chowk. The lawyers were later on joined by traders.
 “It is shameful on the part of the government that the culprits who were involved in the cold blooded murder of three teenagers in Anchidora on June, 29 are still roaming free while the youth who protested against this in humane act are being booked under frivolous charges,” said President of Bar Association, Fayaz Ahmad Saudagar while addressing the lawyers. They sought release of the High Court Bar Association president Mian Qayoom and General Secretary G.N Shaheen.
 Lawyers staged a sit-in at district court Bandipora where they were addressed by Bar President Malik Mushtaq who called for immediate release of  Qayoom and Shaheen.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST