ISLAMABAD, 24 March 2007 — President Pervez Musharraf tried yesterday to defuse a political crisis over the suspension of the country’s top judge, saying the law must be allowed to take its course.
Musharraf, speaking at a Pakistan Day ceremony in the capital, Islamabad, also said every Pakistani had to stand up to extremism and terrorism spreading through society.
The government’s suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 9 triggered protests by lawyers and the opposition. “It is legal issue and it will be resolved only though legal and constitutional means,” Musharraf said.
“I appeal to all lawyers that they should let this constitutional and legal process be completed. It should not be made a law and order or political issue,” he said.
Musharraf late Thursday night appointed Justice Bhagwandas as the acting chief justice of the Supreme Court. Justice Bhagwandas, who arrived from a visit to India on Wednesday has said, “I will perform my responsibilities in accordance with the constitution and law.” Justice Bhagwandas is likely to head the Supreme Judicial Council that is hearing the case against suspended Chief Justice Chaudhry.
Chaudhry, in his first media interview since his suspension, told the Dawn newspaper he was innocent and wanted the closed hearing into the accusations against him open to the public.
The uproar over Chaudhry has diverted public attention from security worries but Musharraf said in his speech extremism and terrorism were spreading in society.
“This cannot be handled by a single individual or force. Therefore, I appeal to every person and the entire nation to stand up and save the nation from the danger of extremism and terrorism,” he said. “Pakistan’s future is ... a moderate, progressive, prosperous and powerful country.”
Tribesmen, Rebels Cease Fire
Warring tribesmen and foreign Al-Qaeda militants have agreed to a cease-fire after four days of bloodshed in a Pakistani border region that left up to 160 people dead, officials said yesterday. Religious leaders mediated the cease-fire overnight in South Waziristan, where Uzbek and Chechen insurgents fought mortar and rocket battles with pro-Taleban local tribes, they said.
