Top judge's suspension sparks ninth day of protests in Pakistan

dpa German Press Agency Published: Monday March 19, 2007

Islamabad- Thousands of Pakistani lawyers on Monday renewed
rallies and hunger strikes over the suspension of the country's chief
justice by President Pervez Musharraf.
Judicial workers paralyzed court proceedings across the country
for the ninth day amid a swell of anger toward the military ruler,
who relieved Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry of his duties on March 9
for alleged misuse of authority.

A spate of resignations included the top judge in the central city
of Lahore, which like the capital, Islamabad, experienced violent
clashes between marchers and police in recent days.

More than 7,000 members of the Bar Association also boycotted
sessions in the largest city of Karachi, and similar protests with
token hunger strikes took place in Quetta, Peshawar and Faisalabad.

Chaudhry was due to appear again before a panel of senior judges
Wednesday to answer allegations his supporters claim were fabricated
to silence him for decisions he previously made against the
government.

The judge denied any wrongdoing, and international rights and
judicial organizations have condemned the actions against him.

Meanwhile, opposition forces have joined demonstrations that
threaten to grow into a broader movement against Musharraf, an army
general who came to power in a coup in 1999.

The president at the weekend condemned what he termed
"conspiracies" against him and said his referral of Chaudhry to the
Supreme Judicial Council had been required under the constitution.

The standoff assumed new dimensions Friday when police used tear
gas and rubber bullets against rock-throwing crowds in the capital
and then rampaged in the offices of a private television channel that
was relaying live footage of the disturbances from its roof.

Musharraf later condemned the police behaviour and a number of
officers were suspended.

Addressing about 30,000 people in Pakpattan Saturday, the
president said people were "doing politics and hatching conspiracies
against me and the country on an issue that is legal and
constitutional."

The president said he had no personal grievance against Chaudhry
and urged both protesters and law enforcers to show restraint and not
to resort to violence.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

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