Pak Suspended Judge Scolds Dictatorship

"Rule of law and supremacy of the constitution is inevitable for a civilized society," Chaudhry said. (Reuters)

"Nations and states which are based on dictatorship instead of the supremacy of the constitution, the rule of law and protection of basic rights get destroyed," Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry told thousands of cheering supporters, reported Reuters.

"The idea of dictatorship and collective responsibility are over," an exhausted-looking Chaudhry said in a broadcast live on private television from the compound of the Lahore High Court.

"They are chapters from the past and those nations which don't learn lessons from the past and repeat those mistakes, they have to pay a price," he told thousands of lawyers, 17 of Punjab province's 23 judges and opposition activists.

Chaudhry arrived in the city of Lahore on Sunday after tens of thousands of supporters turned out to greet him as he traveled by road from Islamabad.

With well-wishers throwing rose petals and clambering over Chaudhry's four-wheel-drive car throughout his journey from the capital, the trip which usually takes four hours lasted more than 20.

President Prevez Musharraf suspended the top judge on March 9 on charges of corruption and misconduct but the legal community and opposition saw the move as an attack on the independence of the judiciary.

Protest rallies have since been held regularly.

Constitutional Supremacy

Supporters gathered around Chaudhry's vehicle in Lahore. (Reuters)

The suspended top judge urged people to struggle for supremacy of constitution.

"It is the responsibility of the courts to defend human rights of the people and protect the constitution," he said.

"The motive of your struggle is supremacy of the constitution and rule of law and God will definitely give us success in this struggle," he told his audience, many of whom had camped out overnight waiting for his arrival.

"Rule of law and supremacy of the constitution is inevitable for a civilized society and the nations who do not believe in it cannot survive and face a collapse."

The authorities' heavy-handed ways and Chaudhry's refusal to resign transformed him into a cause celebre.

The crisis has blown up into the most serious challenge to Musharraf's authority since the army chief seized power in 1999.

"Tens of thousands people came for his reception, this is a referendum against Musharraf," Chaudhry's counsel Aitzaz Ahsan said.

"This reception is historic and it will be remembered in the country for many years."

Fakhr Imam, a former National Assembly speaker and a leader of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's party, agreed.

"I haven't seen anything like this since 1986 when Benazir returned," he said referring to the crowds that turned out when Bhutto returned from exile seven years after the military executed her father, former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Lahore is capital of Punjab, the country's richest and most populous province and a traditional establishment stronghold.

The city is considered Pakistan's political nerve centre and Chaudhry's tumultuous reception will be seen as a clear sign to authorities that their efforts to contain the crisis were failing, observers said.

Politicized

The Musharraf regime accused Chaudhry's supporters of politicizing a judicial matter.

"This is clear that this campaign has become political," said Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.

He announced that the ruling party would respond with a "much bigger rally" on May 12.

The same message was made a day earlier by President Musharraf himself.

"I warn the lawyers that they will not succeed in their designs," he said.

"I ask the lawyers to shun politics."

Since the start of the standoff, lawyers organized massive rallies nationwide against Musharraf's decision.

They have also boycotted court hearings to demand the reinstatement of the suspended top judge.

Opponents say Musharraf wants to weaken the courts and make it easier for him to stay on as army chief past this year's deadline set by the constitution.

The president also intends to seek re-election by the outgoing parliament for another five years ahead of national polls due late this year or early next -- a move that could spark other legal challenges.