Lawyer-activist throng SC as suspended CJI appears before SJC

Islamabad, Apr 13 (UNI) Thousands of lawyers and opposition activists thronged the Pakistan Supreme Court, as the suspended top judge Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry appeared before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for the fifth time today.

The flag-waving activists, who were over 3,000 in number and belonging to the six-party Islamic alliance, including Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Imran Khan's Tehrik-e-Insaf, chanted full-throated slogans of ''Go Musharraf Go, Musharraf is the pet dog of the US, restore Justice Chaudhry''.

They also burnt effigies of President Musharraf and kicked them with boots to vent their anger against sacking of Justice Chaudhry on March 9 through a presidential reference.

Justice Chaudhry faces charges of misuse of powers and getting his son inducted into the police service in complete disregard to rules.

The government had earlier announced that no one would be allowed to go to the Supreme Court building, but opposition activists broke through the police cordons and reached constitution avenue, where the apex court's building is located.

The heavy police contingent deployed on the building and its adjacent areas did not react.

A senior police official told UNI that they had been ordered to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents.

''We will not take action as long as protestors remain peaceful,'' he said on condition of anonamity.

The police had arrested more than 200 political activists in Islamabad and Lahore last night, who they believed might create law and order problem.

''Our struggle is not confined to Justice Chaudhry, it is rather aimed at establishing a durable system of justice in the country,'' MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad told hundreds of opposition activists outside the Supreme Court building.

He said President Musharraf had become an American stooge by supporting anti-Muslim policy of the US in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Kashmir.

A central leader of PML(N) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the opposition parties wanted to restore country's image abroad, which had been tarnished by Gen Musharraf and his cronies.

Crickerter-turned-politician Imran Khan said nobody could now stop the movement launched by the opposition parties for restoration of a genuine democracy in the country.

Meanwhile, a senior lawyer representing Justice Chaudhry in the council said the next hearing would be held on April 18.

''The Council today heard our objections about three member judges,'' Justice(Retd) Tariq Mehmud told reporters.

Justice Chaudhry's team had raised three objections, challenging the in-camera trial, credentials of three senior members of the Council and its overall composition.

''We hope that the Council will announce its verdict on completion of our arguments of the three points,'' Justice Mehmud said.

UNI