Hundreds protest over Pakistani top judge

Islamabad, Mar 21: Hundreds of Pakistani lawyers and opposition supporters protested outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad today, demanding justice for the country's suspended top judge and denouncing the government.

The suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 9 outraged the legal community and has triggered President Pervez Musharraf's biggest political crisis, raising concern about stability ahead of elections due around the end of the year.

''Our struggle will continue until the dictatorship ends,'' Qazi Hussain Ahmed, leader of an opposition alliance of religious parties, told the crowd of his supporters, lawyers and members of liberal opposition parties.

The move to sack Chaudhry, who had a reputation as an independent-minded Supreme Court boss, led to suspicion Musharraf feared the judge would block any attempt by the president to keep the post of army chief, which he is due to give up this year.

Musharraf said in a television interview on Monday that elections due late this year or early next would be held on time, and he ruled out imposing an emergency to end the uproar.

The government has not given details of the accusations against Chaudhry that led to his suspension, but a state news agency cited ''misconduct and misuse of authority''.

Many judges and lawyers see the move against him as an attack on the independence of the judiciary. Seven judges and a deputy attorney-general have resigned this week.

Lawyers and opposition activists clashed with police in Islamabad and Lahore last week, and protests have continued this week but there has been no serious trouble.

The top judicial watchdog hearing the accusations was due to have its third closed session on Wednesday but postponed it, without giving a reason, until April 3.

''HIGH SPIRITS''

Nevertheless, lawyers and opposition parties went ahead with the protests they had planned to coincide with the hearing.

''Go Musharraf Go'' shouted protesters in the capital, many carrying party flags.

Police blocked traffic on the main road outside the court but made no move to break up the protest of about 700 people .

Last week, police fired teargas and rubber bullets and beat rock-throwing protesters, leading to criticism that the police over-reacted.

Chaudhry was kept under virtual house arrest with his family for the week after his suspension. His lawyers say he is now free to meet anyone he wants, although he has not made public appearances or given interviews.

''The chief justice is in high spirits,'' Asfandyar Wali Khan, the leader of a small opposition party, told the rally after meeting Chaudhry. ''He told us that 'if the government has courage, they should try me in an open court'.'' Police in the city of Lahore said they rounded up at least 45 activists of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's party last night, but several hundred lawyers in business suits took to the streets of the eastern city today.

About 100 lawyers tried to march in the southwestern city of Quetta. Police fired one teargas shell at them, a witness said.

REUTERS

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