International   

Protests by Pakistan lawyers gather strength

Nirupama Subramanian

Crowds stage demonstration outside the Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: Contrary to the impression that the agitation over the ouster of Pakistan Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary was fizzling out, lawyers and activists of political parties gathered in greater numbers and with more enthusiasm than before for protests on Friday.

The crowds protested outside the Supreme Court where the Supreme Judicial Council met for a hearing of the presidential reference against Mr. Chaudhary.

The five-judge oversight panel adjourned the hearing until April 18.

"The fight is on. We will come back here in greater numbers on April 18," Raja Pervez Ashraff, a leader of Benazir Bhutto-led People's Party of Pakistan, told activists.

Protesters raised slogans against President Pervez Musharraf, against the military and the U.S. for supporting a "dictator".

The agitation is now in its second month, which observers say is unprecedented in the recent history. Protests were also held in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and other parts of the country.

The judiciary oversight panel heard arguments from defence lawyers on the issue of "personal bias" against the Chief Justice of three judges on the panel.

In a press release, the Supreme Court said it would hear the other legal objections by the defence at the next hearing.

Defence objections

Aitzaz Ahasan, who is leading Mr. Chaudhary's defence team, said there were three other objections: to the in-camera proceedings; to the constitution of the Supreme Judicial Council without the Chief Justice, who under the Constitution, must preside over it, and the competence of the Supreme Judicial Council to hear a reference against the Chief Justice, which according to Mr. Ahsan can be heard only by a full court.

Constitution Avenue, Pakistan's seat of power, was a sea of multi-coloured flags of different political parties, as several hundred activists gathered for the protests outside the Court.

More than at any before in the last month, Friday's protests gave the impression that the agitation is growing into a larger political movement against the Musharraf regime.

From the smallest of political organisations, to the bigger political parties such as the PPP, Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N), and the right-wing Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, all were present.

An interview by Mr. Sharif to a private television channel from London expressing confidence that he would be returning this year and "before Benazir", appears to have acted as a steroid boost to his followers.

Despite the scorching heat, large numbers of his supporters showed up for the protests.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Protests by Pakistan lawyers gather strength
Rajapaksa to meet Pope
Algerian blasts find echo in France
No longer safe, admits U.S.
Remnant of Berlin Wall removed
Uncertainty over poll
Overtakes Buffett
"Indian demands can torpedo nuclear deal"
U.S. reacts cautiously to Agni III missile test
Rushdie shortlisted for Man Booker

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu