NEW YORK, June 30: A shouting match between Justice (retd) Wajihuddin and Pakistan People’s Party workers marred a large meeting of Pakistanis who had gathered to listen to leaders of lawyers’ movement.

The altercation was triggered off by Justice Wajih’s criticism of the PPP leadership. He particularly derided the appointment of Law Minister Farooq Naek, who in his opinion was not qualified to sit on any senior court bench. The chaos was exacerbated when the retired judge asked them harshly to shut up and listen to him. At that point the audience erupted telling Justice Wajihuddin that they would not allow any attack on the PPP and its leader Benazir Bhutto.

Also palpable was tension between Justice Wajihuddin and Mr Aitzaz Ahsan, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association. As Justice Wajih spoke, Mr Ahsan sat on the stage pointedly reading a book without looking up.

Pandemonium rose to a crescendo with slogans of ‘Go Musharraf Go”, ‘Jiye Bhutto’ and ‘Benazir Zindabad’, as the organisers strove to calm the enraged crowd. Justice Wajihuddin struggled to speak, attempting to inform the house that the government machinery had broken down and it was living hell in Pakistan. He was especially critical of President Musharraf and the present coalition government.

He continually lost his cool with the audience telling them to shut up, until the organisers intervened to calm the audience down. Aitzaz Ahsan was heard asking Justice Wajihuddin to sit down and end his speech. But he refused and proceeded to implore the audience time and again to give him a chance to make his point.

Earlier, Mr Ahsan in his remarks had paid homage to the lawyers’ movement, and their struggle. He was confident that the movement would succeed in its objective of the restoration of the deposed judges.

A Pakistan Muslim League-N leader, Ahsan Iqbal, told the audience that his party was determined to remove the president from office and would impeach him for what he called crimes committed against the people of Pakistan.

He stated that the coalition government would continue and would achieve its objective of reinstatement of the judiciary.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Justice Wajihuddin and Ahsan Iqbal in conversation with journalists, downplayed differences with the lawyers’ groups, and underlined their joint determination to struggle for restoration of judges. Mr Ahsan had left the meeting earlier, citing a previous engagement.

The meeting was organised by the Pakistani American Advocates for Human Rights.