Islamabad sealed off ahead of SJC hearing against Justice Chaudhary

Islamabad, Mar 16 (UNI) The city resembled a battlefield today as the country's Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) heard a presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary amid skirmishes between a heavy police contingent and activists of the pro-Islamist Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal(MMA).

The police arrested MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad and another central alliance leader and sitting MP Hafiz Hussain Ahmad as they tried to lead a rally after offering congregation today in front of Parliament lodges overlooking the Parliament house.

Islamabad was completely sealed off today with heavy police contingents on all entry points as well as roads to prevent violent protests by lawyers and opposition parties to express solidarity with the suspended Chief Justice.

Flanked by hundreds of lawyers and senior opposition leaders, Mr Chaudhry arrived in the Supreme Court this afternoon to appear before the council for the second time to face allegations leveled against him in a presidential reference.

The reference has been filed amid deepening constitutional crisis, which surfaced months ahead of the completion of the Pakistan Muslim League's five-year tenure.

The council heard a team of lawyers representing Justice Chaudhary and adjourned the hearing until March 21, senior counsel of the suspended Chief Justice, Hamid Khan told reporters after the hearing.

Mr Khan said the council issued a fresh order which lifted restrictions from Justice Chaudhary and his family, who were living under virtual house-arrest.

He said Chaudhary's team did not give any arguments since they were not allowed to meet him on March 13 despite orders passed by the council.

'' We drew attention of the council towards three points, which we had raised regarding composition of the SJC, our reservations about two judges on the panel and the demand for an open trial'' Mr Khan said.

The Supreme Court building echoed slogans like ''Go Musharraf Go'', ''We don't accept a military rule'' while police and MMA activists strolled on the roads leading to Parliament.

The police had to resort to firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets to dispurse the processionists, who pelted stones in a bid to engage the law enforcement officials.

While lawyers boycotted local courts, hundreds of activists belonging to the Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and other opposition parties were arrested in Pakistan overnight in a bid to prevent the Islamic opposition alliance from staging protest rallies after Friday prayers.

Alliance leaders told private TV channels that they would hold rallies in front of the Supreme Court and in the country come what may, to protest against this ''conspiracy to weaken a strong national institution''.

Their remarks come in the backdrop of debates aired by TV channels on repurcussions of references made against Mr Chaudhary, the first top judge in the country's judicial history to have faced allegations of misconduct and misuse of authority.

However, the SJC headed by acting CJ Javed Iqbal, has advised the print and electronic media to avoid indulging in a media trial.

President Musharraf for the first time, since the sacking, showed the door to Justice Chaudhary and spoke on the issue yesterday saying that the government will accept the verdict of the SJC on the reference.

The President said in a public gathering in central Gujranwala town that once the decision was announced, he would address the nation on television to take it into confidence.

Keeping a close watch on the situation arising out of Mr Chaudhary's suspension, Pakistan's close ally, the United States, also called for ''careful''handling of the issue.

''We understand the sensitivity of accusations and this needs to be handled very carefully,'' visiting US assistant secretary of state Richard Boucher told reporters in Islamabad yesterday evening.

The top leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party entered the constitution avenue, which houses the Supreme Court building, Parliament house and President house despite barbed wires and barricades erected by the police and described Mr Chaudhary's suspension as a ''naked attempt'' to disrupt and end trichotomy of power.

A senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Mr Khwaja Asif said events in the country since March 9 were only the beginning of the end of the term of President Musharraf.

''I think he (Musharraf) has made a grevious mistake by attacking the judiciary'' he said.

Speaking before his arrest, Qazi Hussain Ahmad said the country suffered from a worse crisis situation because of the dictatorial approach of an individual, who had also tarnished the image of the armed forces and harmed the integrity of the judiciary.

''I appeal to the people to join hands with us in showing the door to the military dictator'' he said as the contigent of the Punjab police force forcibly boarded him into their van.

Top PPP leaders including acting chief Makhdoom Amin Fahim and central leaders Yusuf Raza Gillani and Raza Rabbani also vowed to struggle for safeguarding the judiciary from what they called blatant attacks and strengthening all national institutions.

''We will keep playing an active role to restore the 1973 constitution, which existed before the October 1999 military coup'' they said.

UNI