SAC resists police, stages rally

By By Our Correspondent

Source: The News

STUDENTS Action Committee (SAC) staged a protest demonstration for restoration of the judiciary and freedom of media and held a march on The Mall in this regard on Monday.The police tried to stop the rally near the Lahore Museum, but the protesting students resisted the move and continued their march towards Anarkali Chowk despite routine traffic. More than one hundred students, especially girls, lawyers and civil society representatives participated in the rally. They expressed their resentment over the recent developments, including lifting of the emergency. They said, “Nothing has changed.” Some members of the Campaign for Democracy and Rule of Law in Pakistan (CDRLP) and the Teachers Action Committee (TAC) also participated in the rally. Some participants of the rally wore masks depicting photos of missing persons, highlighting the efforts of the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) for their recovery.The students carried placards inscribed with various slogans demanding restoration of judiciary, freedom of media, “Azadi”, and anti-government catchphrases. The protest demonstration was scheduled to be held inside Nasir Bagh. However, its participants took out a rally from Nasir Bagh to Anarkali Chowk. They distributed flyers among people during the rally and urged them to forward the message of protest against the present regime to others. A participant of the rally, Ali, told The News, “Our protest is against the farce of politics that started in Pakistan after the so-called pro-democracy act of lifting the emergency.”Another participant said, “Amendment to the Constitution the night before lifting of the emergency shows the weakening of the government.” “Nevertheless, nothing has changed,” he observed. A female student said, “Students will continue their struggle for the restoration of the judiciary, which is necessary for a free and enlightened nation.” After protesting at Anarkali for around 10 minutes, the students marched back towards Nasir Bagh. They gathered at the roundabout near National College of Arts (NCA) and chanted slogans for almost 20 minutes. They also formed a human chain at the roundabout and demanded restoration of the judiciary to its pre-November 3 position and an independent media. Some students also pasted stickers “Pehlay Adliya Azad, Elections Us Kay Baad” (First free judiciary and then hold elections) on PML-Q banners at a pole at the roundabout. A student presented a parody of a famous national song with other participants. They dispersed after singing the national anthem.