A joint petition was filed in the Supreme Court yesterday by Advocates Athar Minallah and Yahya Khan Afridi against the President’s move to suspend the Chief Justice. They urged the court to declare the March 9 decision and detention of the Chief Justice as illegal and unconstitutional. The SJC should suspend its proceedings till a decision on this petition, the advocates said.

Meanwhile, a joint meeting of the SCBA and the PBC adopted another resolution accusing the authorities of trying to obtain Chaudhry’s resignation by force. All bar councils and bar associations have decided to observe a Black Day on March 13. The two associations also demanded that the proceedings be held in an open court with lawyers and journalists attending.

The Punjab Bar Council also cancelled the licence of advocate Naeem Bokhari, who wrote a letter to Chaudhry alleging misuse of authority and seen by some as the tool used by the President to remove the Chief Justice. Bokhari was barred from practising law in the province.