Pakistan: Lawyers challenge president’s influence over judiciary
Lawyers are taking the lead in the latest protests against Pakistan’s president, General Pervez Musharraf. Today, representatives of Pakistan’s major bar associations presented petitions to the country’s Supreme Court regarding the recent suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry from his post by President Musharraf. Pakistan’s bar has rallied around Mr. Chaudhry since his suspension in March. His removal sparked accusations among lawyers and anti-government activists that President Musharraf is attempting to undercut judicial independence in an election year. Hundreds of lawyers have taken to the streets in protest since Mr. Chaudhry was removed as Chief Justice. In March, bar associations across Pakistan staged boycotts of the courts to protest the suspension.
Mr. Chaudhry was removed for alledgedly misusing his post to secure a job for his son and other assets for himself. Mr. Chaudhry has publicly denied the allegations. Critics of the government claim that Mr. Chaudhry was removed because he used his position as Chief Justice to address sensitive matters related to the government. These include investigations into the disappearance of political activists who were alledgedly detained illegally by security forces, and a decision that overturned the recent sale of Pakistan’s state-run steel mills.
Click here to view a BBC video on the response to Mr. Chaudhry’s suspension.
(Photo: Protesters march to the Supreme Court in Islamabad. Photo courtesy of Reuters.)
