Justice Chaudhry makes first public appearance

Islamabad, Mar 28 (UNI) Pakistan's suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhmmad Chaudhry today made his first public appearance almost 20 days after his removal by President General Pervez Musharraf on charges of misconduct and misuse of authority.

He was given a standing ovation by over 2,000 lawyers as he arrived at the High Court bar association in Rawalpindi to speak to his community after remaining under virtual house-arrest for more than two weeks in his Islamabad residence.

Lawyers welcomed him with full-throated slogans against President Musharraf and his government.

But Mr Chaudhry, who covered a distance of 20 kilometers from his residence to the bar in more than four hours, refused to comment on the presidential reference during the speech.

He said he would not make a political speech. ''I am a professional judge, who worked very hard throughout his career and my speech will be the essence of my judicial experience.'' His address to the bar came a day after President Musharraf's remarks at a public meeting in Rawalpindi that the opposition parties failed to drum up support during their protests.

Justice Chaudhry's removal followed a series of violent protests in Pakistan with police taking into custody dozens of protestors, including Islamists and opposition leaders, mostly from the religious alliance, Mutahida Majlis-e-Ammal (MMA).

He will appear before the Supreme Judicial Council for the third time on April 3 to defend himself against the charges.

Today, he paid tributes to the senior and junior judges who resigned in protest against his removal all over Pakistan.

However, he told them it is not for individuals but for the God Almighty to confer respect or humiliation on his people.

He said judiciary has to stand out as a strong entity, which the people can trust and have confidence in.

He said judiciary is an entity, which safeguards people's dignity, their honour, liberty and protect their property.

''The judiciary must display proper conduct and show good performance to earn public confidence and to play the role of a fair, impartial and independent arbitrator of law and constitution,'' he stressed.

Calling for free, fair and impartial system of administration of justice, he said a civilised society is unthinkable in the absence of this system.

UNI