ISLAMABAD, 18 May 2007 — Strike was observed in several cities across Pakistan yesterday to condemn the killing of 41 people in Karachi last week during a protest rally called to denounce the suspension of the chief justice by President Pervez Musharraf.
Musharraf sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 9 on unspecified charges. Chaudhry has filed a petition seeking a ruling from the Supreme Court, arguing that his suspension by Musharraf was illegal.
Government lawyers urged the Supreme Court yesterday to dismiss Chaudhry’s petition. They urged the court to order a resumption of proceedings by a closed-door judicial panel examining government allegations of misconduct by Chaudhry. The panel’s hearings were suspended last week pending a decision on the petition.
The government lawyers said the petition is superfluous and that the panel, known as the Supreme Judicial Council, (SJC) has full authority to decide the matter.
The government lawyers also urged the Supreme Court yesterday to dismiss the petition. “(The panel) has the capacity and power to decide on constitutional matters,” government lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri said in the cavernous courtroom packed with journalists and lawyers. “Whatever it decides it acquires finality.” The court later adjourned proceedings until next week.
However, the agitation continued yesterday, as about 2,000 lawyers held a rally in Lahore, blocking the city’s main commercial street for about an hour. They called for the judiciary’s independence to be protected and chanted, “Down with Musharraf!” and “No to dictatorship!”
More than 300 lawyers held two separate rallies in the eastern city of Multan.
The case has assumed critical importance for Pakistan, amid growing pressure on Musharraf to relinquish his position as army chief and restore democracy. Critics suspect Musharraf — who seized power in a 1999 coup — of sidelining Chaudhry because he viewed the independent-minded judge as an obstacle to his continued rule. Musharraf denies the move was politically motivated.
Meanwhile, a US group that promotes democracy said yesterday that tainted elections in Pakistan could strengthen the hand of militants. The independent National Democratic Institute, referring Musharraf, also said holding the positions of president and army chief at the same time was not acceptable in a democracy.
“If the elections are tainted, they could lead to the strengthening of extremist elements which can fill the void left by the marginalization of the more moderate parties,” said David Collenette, a former Canadian government minister.
