December 05, 2007	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 24, 1428

LAHORE, Dec 4: Lahore High Court Judge Justice MA Shahid Siddiqui has announced joining the movement for the rule of law and independence of judiciary.

He announced this while addressing a group of students from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), lawyers and members of civil society who gathered outside his official residence in GOR. They had come to the judge’s residence after the news broke out that the government intended to evict him from there.

“I know I am a judge but the events of today (Tuesday) and yesterday (Monday) have assured me that those days are gone. From now on I am going to participate in the movement as a worker,” the judge announced to a boisterous crowd.

“In case of restoration of judiciary, I would prefer to remain a part of you,” he said. The lawyers, intellectuals and students played a pivotal role in advancing the cause of an independent judiciary and their efforts would not go waste, he added.

He said the government had issued a notification, removing judges who did not take oath under the PCO which also stated the judges would also be deprived of all benefits.

“In this critical time, indeed I do not wish to go for any benefits. But I wish people are not deprived of an independent judiciary,” he said.

In a society where an independent judiciary did not exist, lawlessness reigned supreme, he added. “Today, the educated class and intelligentsia are aware (of the situation) and have risen for the protection of the institution of this country,” he said.

The crowd outside his residence hailed the judge and chanted slogans against Gen Musharraf (retired).

Justice Siddiqui had refused the demand of the Lahore High Court to vacate his residence a few days ago and had issued the registrar with a contempt notice for making such a demand as a sitting judge.

On Monday, the judge said he received a call from one of the additional registrars, without giving his name, who told him that the high court officials had been talking to the administration to vacate the house by use of force.

On Monday night, lawyers, members of civil society and journalists started gathering in front of the judge’s house as soon as the news regarding the use of force spread. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asma Jehangir, Hina Jillani and Justice Nasira Iqbal (retired) also came rushing to Justice Siddiqui’s residence. Some lawyers, rights activists and citizens also held a candlelit vigil there. Two American rights activists — Tigh Barry and Medea Benjamin — also came to the spot to show solidarity with the judge. They spent the night there and chanted slogans against Gen Musharraf (retired) and LHC Chief Justice Iftikhar Husain Chaudhry.

Later, in the morning Justice Jawad S Khwaja, Justice Mian Allah Nawaz and members of bar associations came to the residence of the judge and expressed solidarity with him.

Lahore Bar Association President Syed Muhammad Shah, along with a large number of lawyers, also visited the judge.

Lawyers, students and civil society activists were staging a sit-in in front of Justice Siddiqui’s residence till the filing of the report.