ISLAMABAD, 27 May 2007 — Pakistan’s chief justice, whose suspension by President Pervez Musharraf has sparked a political crisis, made a public address late yesterday, two weeks after a clash between his supporters and a government party killed 42 people.
Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry addressed lawyers and diplomats here in the Supreme Court auditorium as hundreds of armed police surrounded the court premises. Protest groups too had gathered nearby.
Chaudhry’s last planned address —- in Karachi two weeks ago — was canceled after his arrival at the local airport triggered savage violence involving opposing political factions and ethnic groups that left 42 dead.
Yesterday, lawyers and opposition party members rallied outside the Supreme Court to support the top judge.
Chanting “Go Musharraf, go” and “We want independent judges,” a frenzied crowd of about 5,000 swarmed around the convoy carrying Chaudhry as he arrived at the court.
Pro-Chaudhry rallies in Islamabad have previously resulted in angry scuffles between paramilitary troops and protesters outside the Supreme Court, where Chaudhry is fighting an ongoing legal battle to retain his post.
Chaudhry joined the seminar on the independence of the judiciary — an issue at the heart of Pakistan’s current political crisis. The Supreme Court Bar Association yesterday had installed two large screens for the public to watch Chaudhry’s speech.
Earlier, Munir A. Malik, president of the bar association, said that some lawyers had reportedly been prevented from attending the event.
“We have reports that police stopped groups of lawyers from traveling to Islamabad from northwest Pakistan,” he said.
“Despite the hurdles we expect a very large number of lawyers to be present.
“We know we are doing it at the risk of our lives, facing threats and intimidation from the rulers. This speech by Chief Justice Chaudhry will be historic.”
Musharraf says Chaudhry was suspended for misconduct, but the president’s opponents say he wants to weaken the courts ahead of any legal challenges to his bid to remain army chief past the constitutional time limit of the end of 2007.
Musharraf’s dismissal of Chaudhry on March 9 has become a focal point for disparate opponents of the military regime of the general, who seized power in 1999.
Chaudhry has received rousing welcomes from lawyers and opposition supporters in cities across Pakistan.
In his address in Lahore three weeks ago, Chaudhry appeared to issue a direct challenge to Musharraf, declaring the “era of dictatorship is over.”
Musharraf later countered with a rally in Islamabad, where he warned: “Do not challenge us. We are not cowards like you. We have the power of the people.” The Supreme Court Bar Association said entry to yesterday’s event would be restricted to lawyers, diplomats and some media representatives.
Chaudhry talked on “the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary” — a theme at the heart of Pakistan’s current troubles.
Three to four thousand workers from opposition parties assembled to hear the judge speak, security sources said.
“We have deployed hundreds of policemen to maintain order,” Islamabad’s police chief said.
Musharraf has blamed Chauhdry and his supporters for the carnage in Karachi, saying that they had politicized the judge’s fate and stoked up tensions.
Two days after the riots, Supreme Court Deputy Registrar Syed Hamad Raza, who served as Chaudhry’s personal assistant, was killed by gunmen.
