Islamabad sealed off ahead of SJC hearing against Justice Chaudhry

Islamabad, Mar 16 (UNI) Pakistan's capital was completely sealed off today with police deployed on all entry points as well as roads to prevent protests by lawyers and opposition parties expressing solidarity with the suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Chaudhry is to appear before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for the second time today to face allegations leveled against him in a presidential reference, amid deepening constitutional crisis, which has surfaced months ahead of the completion of Pakistan Muslim League's five-year tenure in government.

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

However, the alliance leaders told private TV channels that they would hold rallies in front of the Supreme Court and all over Pakistan, come what may, to protest against "conspiracy to weaken a strong national institution".

Their remarks came to the backdrop of debates aired by the TV channels on repurcussions of the reference against Chaudhry, who is 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 print and electronic media to avoid indulging in a media trial.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, also for the first time, since sacking Justice Chaudhry, spoke on the issue yesterday, saying that the government will accept the verdict of the SJC on the reference.

He told a public gathering in Gujranwala 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 Chaudhry'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 here yesterday evening.

UNI