ABBOTABAD, 3 June 2007 — Tens of thousands of people gathered for the biggest rally yet against the president’s suspension of Pakistan’s chief justice, giving the jurist a joyous reception ahead of a speech to lawyers in an opposition stronghold.
Pakistan’s suspended top judge led a procession yesterday that drew thousands of opposition supporters, witnesses said, as political pressure on military ruler President Pervez Musharraf grew.
The weight of the roadside crowds, chanting “Go Musharraf Go!,” periodically halted the motorcade led by the ousted head of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, they said.
The procession, comprising dozens of cars, was the latest in a series of events to draw public support for the judge since Musharraf suspended him on March 9 over alleged misconduct.
Witnesses said some 5,000 opposition workers and lawyers welcomed Chaudhry at the ancient town of Taxila on his route to Abbotabad, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the capital, Islamabad.
The boisterous crowd waved flags and chanted slogans condemning Musharraf and the military’s involvement in politics, the witnesses said.
The federal government had clamped section 144 on Friday night to prevent rallies, public meeting and processions. Despite the federal restriction, crowds came out in droves to greet Chaudhry.
At historic Hassanabdal City, the Citizens’ Committee and the Lawyers Association presented the key of the city to Chaudhry.
The procession, comprising dozens of cars, was the latest in a series of events to draw public support for the judge.
Witnesses estimated at least 50,000-60,000 people gathered along the road to Abbotabad. Dozens accompanied Chaudhry’s convoy when it left the capital, where it defied the city’s new two-month ban on gatherings of more than five people. The procession kept growing as it neared Abbotabad.
Chaudhry supporters claimed the crowd surpassed 100,000. Official figures were not immediately available. Ahead of Chaudhry’s vehicle, a crowd that included horses and camels danced to the beat of drums and chanted “Go, Musharraf, go.”
All roads leading to Abbotabad were decorated with banners, balloons and portraits of the judge. “I never saw such enthusiasm among people,” said Nawaz Khan, a prominent lawyer.
Pakistani news channels have shown live TV coverage of Chaudhry’s rallies. But the situation yesterday was visibly different, as most stations only reported on Chaudhry’s procession, showing previously recorded footage.
The government has asked news channels to reduce coverage of the top judge, the latest sign of intolerance of what it claims has been biased reporting under a policy of maximum independence for media.
Mohsin Raza, news director for the AYR news channel, said the government was exerting pressure on the coverage issue. “It’s a kind of censorship of the electronic media,” he said.
One broadcaster, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said Friday his network received “verbal instructions” from the government not to show live coverage of Chaudhry’s rallies.
However, Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani said that the government believes in freedom of the press, and that it had only requested the media abide by their code of conduct.
Durrani earlier asked news channels not to play into the hands of those who want to politicize the suspension issue.
— With input from agencies
