Lawyers March to Oust Musharraf

The long march, which has crossed several cities and towns, will reach Islamabad on Thursday.

The march began simultaneously from the southern port city of Karachi and southeastern Quetta.

Emotionally charged lawyers, political activists and civil society members danced on drum beating and raised vociferous slogans. amid slogans such as "Go Musharraf Go", "Let’s go to Islamabad to save the country".

Scores of retired and deposed judges joined the march, describing it as the last voyage to save the country.

Several former army men, foreign secretaries, and ambassadors have also announced plans to join the long march, which will reach Islamabad on Thursday, June 12, after passing through several cities and towns.

The march was motivated by the failure of the ruling coalition, led by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), to fulfill its promise of installing the supreme and high court judges sacked Musharraf in November for fear of outlawing his controversial re-election as president-in-uniform.

The PPP-led government had promised to reinstate the deposed judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudry, within 30 days after taking the oath.

But it failed to deliver and set a new deadline of May 12.

After the expiry of the new deadline, coalition partner and former premier Nawaz Sharif decided to withdrew the nine ministers of his Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) from the federal government.

The PPP is proposing a constitutional package aimed at giving indemnity to all extra-constitutional actions taken by Musharraf, and blocking the re-entry of Chaudry into the supreme court.

"We have come out of our houses to save Pakistan. This is not only the struggle to save the judiciary but to save the country," said Justice rtd Fakhruddin G Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, a former chief justice of Sindh high court, headed a committee of legal experts that drafted the Murree declaration, under which the PPP and PML-N agreed to reinstate the judges within 30 days of oath-taking.

Surprises  

Lawyers have promised Ukraine-like surprises.

The Black-suited lawyers were keeping their plans under wraps, amid speculations they might besieged the President House.

"We have not taken any final decision in this regard," Athar Minaullah, a spokesman of Justice Chaudry, told IslamOnline.net.

"First we will reach Islamabad and then decide as per situation," he added.

"Anything is possible," said the spokesman responding to questions on whether lawyers will stage a sit-in outside the President House.

Lawyers sources say that they do not want to disclose their actual plans in order to avoid any hindrances.

"We will give you a surprise," a senior lawyer told IOL, wishing not to be named.

"We will repeat the sequel of Ukraine," he added referring to thousands of Ukrainian protestors who besieged the president house last year forcing the president to step down amid charges of poll rigging.

Lawyers have bitterly opposed Musharraf, who seized power in a coup nine years ago, since he tried to sack Chaudhry in March 2007.

"Lawyers have some hidden plans, which they are not showing at the moment," believes Ansar Abbasi, an Islamabad-based senior political analyst.

"It could be siege of the president house or the supreme court building in order to stop the pro-Musharraf judges from entering the court," he told IOL.

"This is a wise move. They should not disclose their actual plans, otherwise it will be difficult for them to translate them into action."

Abbasi believes that if the lawyers besiege the President House, the government will not be able to control the situation.

"The PPP government cannot afford to baton charge or use force against the lawyers as it will be disastrous to its already declining image."

Widening Gap  

Political activists and civil society members have joined the long march.

Analysts believe the long march will further widen the gap between the PPP and the lawyers and the civil society community.

"Lawyers have reached a no-return point," said Abbasi.

"They can’t go back. Therefore, the PPP leadership must understand that the time is running out for them," he added.

"Deposed judges have to be restored. The PPP should read what is written on the wall."

Ejaz Shaikh, a Karachi-based political observer, believes that the long march has a tacit support from Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto and the PPP leader.

"Everything is pre-planned. Zardari wants to get rid of Musharraf, and lawyers are the best weapon for that."

He argues that Zardari wants lawyers to compel Musharraf to resign because the embattled president has turned down Zardari advise to do so.

"Because of the US pressure, Zardari cannot go all out against Musharraf, that is why he has put in lawyers for that."

Abbasi, the Islamabad-based senior political analyst, does not buy that theory.

"The PPP leadership stands alongside Musharraf as far as the reinstatement of judges is concerned," he maintains.

"The lawyers movement is in its concluding stage, and it is impossible for the PPP or any other party to join the struggle on its conclusion. Therefore, I don’t think that the long march enjoys Zardari’s support. In fact Zardari is speaking Musharraf’s language."