Lawyers convention hails treason verdict, flays critics.

LAHORE -- A lawyers' convention hosted by Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) on Thursday hailed the verdict of a special court in high treason case against former military dictator retired Gen Pervez Musharraf and condemned criticism on it by the attorney general and the army's spokesman.

The convention was held on road outside the bar's building as a large number of lawyers turned up to express solidarity with their colleagues arrested in the wake of attack on Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).

Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Vice Chairman Amjad Ali Shah, PbBC VC Shahnawaz Ismail, Ali Ahmad Kurd and Munir Bhatti were among the prominent who addressed the convention.

Mr Shah said Musharraf had blood of lawyers and innocent citizens on his hands. He said the institution of army was respectable and its leadership should act with great responsibility. He demanded that the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations withdraw his statement against the special court's verdict.

He said Musharraf had the right to file appeal against the sentence and the army should not become party in the case of an individual.

A declaration issued at the convention said the legal fraternity was united as it had always been instrumental against dictatorship and in protection of the Constitution and supremacy of law in the country.

It also condemned the government's failure to take in-time action to control the situation...