The SCBA leaders speaking at a rally arranged to protest the pardon to the ruling BNP man, described the mercy order as 'illegal and against the constitution'. They also demanded scrapping of the order and resignation of those involved in the process.

The rally was held at the South Hall of the SCBA Building yesterday afternoon.

After the rally, the Bar association men took out a procession from the Supreme Court premises, defying barricades by police.

Advocate Mahbubey Alam, president of the association, chaired the rally.

The SCBA leaders also demanded resignation of the ruling coalition to end its 'misrule and establish the rule of law'.

Referring to Friday's grand rally of pro-BNP lawyers, Barrister Amir-Ul Islam said the law ministry had instructed the district judges to contact lawyers so they do participate in the rally.

"District judges are now in grave peril," he said, urging the Supreme Court judges to shield the lower court judges.

On the stalled process of Bangabandhu Murder Case in the Supreme Court, he questioned, "Out of which passion or aversion did the judges feel embarrassed for as many as nine times?"

"If the atmosphere is not congenial to hearing of the case, then it is an omen of disaster for the nation," he said. Allegiance to ruling parties these days seems to be the only criterion to be a judge and it stains the image of the judiciary, Amir-Ul observed.

"The authority to appoint judges must not rest with the executive," he said, adding the lawyers will keep on agitating to uphold the judiciary's image with the public.

Criticising the role of Law Minister Moudud Ahmed in the Jhintu issue, he said, "The law minister has constantly flip-flopped on the issue."

The government has undermined the rule of law and independence of the judiciary, he said, asking, "Will the country be ruled by the killers or by law?"

Describing the demand for the law minister's resignation as popular demand, former SCBA president Advocate Abdul Baset Mojumder said, "Make pubic all the documents on presidential mercy to Jhintu."

"We'll continue to protest the wrongs done by the government and its fall is imminent," said SCBA President Mahbubey Alam.

Ojayer Farooq, former SCBA president, asked the government to resign 'for the people to be at peace'.

SCBA Secretary Enayetur Rahim, Advocates Sahara Khatun, Subrata Chowdhury, Bashir Ahmed and Ruhul Quddus Babu, among others, spoke at the rally.

After the rally, participants brought out a procession at about 4:45pm.As they got out of the Supreme Court premises and were marching to the National Press Club, police put barricades on the road 20 yards off the main entrance to the Supreme Court. After jostling with the policemen for some time, the lawyers stormed the barricades and marched to the press club, chanting slogans 'Jhintu-Moudud dui bhai, ek dorite fansi chai (Jhintu-Moudud are two brothers, we want them to be hanged together with one rope).

The SCBA men held another rally at the press club.