"Chaudhry Convoy" Defies Musharraf

Chaudhry makes his way to address Lahore Bar Council in Lahore. (Reuters)

"The people of Punjab have given their judgment. They are with the chief justice and the judiciary," Chaudhry Aitizaz Ahsan, one of the Chief Justice's defense team, told IslamOnline.net over the phone from Lahore.

Ahsan, who is a Member of Parliament for Benazir Bhutto-led Pakistan peoples Party (PPP), said today's mass rallies in support of Chaudhry served as a public referendum on sitting Musharraf.

"Not only Punjab, but the whole nation backs the Chief Justice. He is fighting for the supremacy and freedom of the judiciary," Ahsan added.

"The government’s all desperate and coercive attempts have failed to undermine our movement, which will continue till the freedom of judiciary."

Chanting "Go Musharraf Go", "army rule unacceptable", and "long live democratic Pakistan", Chaudhry's supporters from Islamabad and Jehlum to Gujrat and Lahore cheered the country's top judge and showered his convoy with flowers.

Musharraf's decision to sack Chaudhry sparked uproar from opposition parties, who called it an attempt to intimidate the judiciary, and prompted an inquiry by a five-judge panel.

Rallies have been held regularly, and lawyers have boycotted court hearings to demand his reinstatement.

The Supreme Judicial Council, which is hearing Chaudhry's case, adjourned proceedings on Thursday until May 9 after lawyers concluded arguments about the validity and composition of the council.

Chaudhry has also filed a separate constitutional petition at the Supreme Court challenging Musharraf's action against him. The court is to take up the petition on Monday, May 7.

Massive Arrests

Pakistanis went out in droves to cheer Chaudhry's convoy. (Reuters)

The supporters, estimated in thousands, defied stern warnings by police over the past few days against taking part in pro-Chaudhry rallies.

Police sources told IOL on condition of anonymity that around 3,000 lawyers and political activists were arrested in all over Punjab during last two days.

"We don’t know about the motive behind his arrest. The government has provided us the lists of the people who should be arrested," one police officer said.

Besides Lahore, most of the arrests were made in Gujranwala, Gujrat and other districts.

The detainees included the workers of Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttehida Majlis-e-Amal, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, and Pakistan Muslim League (N).

Heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies blocked several roads and service lanes in Jehlum, Lala Moosa, Muridkay, Kharian, Gujrat and other towns of the eastern Punjab province to prevent lawyers, activists and locals from venturing out.

Around 7,000 policemen and security officials have been deployed for the rally which organizers said are the biggest since Musharraf sacked Chaudhry on March 9.

Tariq Chaudhry, a senior journalist who was part of the Chief Justice’s convoy, said thousands of citizens could not reach rally venues due to extensive police barricades.

"Locals told us that they were threatened and prevented from welcoming the Chief Justice," he told IOL.

He said shopkeepers were asked by police to pull their shutters down on the arrival of chief justice in their respective cities.

"The police warned them if they do not pull their shutters down, they will be fined," the journalist added.

He said police were in vain trying their best to keep as many as they can from the rallies.

"The government seems to be desperate. Whenever the chief justice’s convoy left a city, the police systematically blocked 100-150 vehicles in the tail and cut them from the convoy," he said.

"However, the vigorous and motivated lawyers and political workers have almost foiled the government’s attempts by adopting alternative measures," he noted.

"I was surprised to see that at various places, even school children were present to welcome the chief justice," Tariq said.

No Politics

Lawyers and activists dismissed charges that their pro-judge campaigns were politically motivated.

"There is no political motive behind this movement. This is purely for the freedom of judiciary. The chief justice has never spoken even a single word about politics or against the presidential reference," said Ahsan.

"People of Pakistan do not trust General Musharraf. He never fulfils his promises. He had promised  the nation that he would shed his military uniform by the end of 2004, but he never did that," he added.

Justice Nasira Iqbal saw eye-to-eye with Ahsan.

"Our aim is to restore the writ of constitution and democratic norms in the country. We have nothing to do with politics," Nasira, daughter-in-law ofPakistan’s legend poet Muhammad Iqbal, said.