CHARSADDA, March 17: Abdul Latif Afridi, a prominent lawyer and central leader of the Awami National Party, has said the country is passing through a critical phase in its history due to “the dictatorial policies of Gen Musharraf”.

Speaking at a press conference at the Charsadda Press Club on Saturday, Mr Afridi said the ongoing conflict between the judiciary and the army had put the integrity of the country at stake.

Severely criticising the president over the “chief justice affair”, he claimed that the government move was totally illegal and a blatant violation of the constitution.

“Today, even the Chief Justice of Pakistan is pleading for justice and a fair trial. And we can imagine what an ordeal the masses face,” the ANP leader said, adding that all political parties, civil society organisations and students must come forward and join the struggle to rid the country of military dictatorship.

He said that due to the dictatorial policies of the present regime, all institutions of the country were on the verge of collapse, having lost their significance.

He said the present movement of the lawyer community was not for the sake of an individual but for the integrity and supremacy of the judiciary and human rights in the country. He said the legal community was fighting for the very integrity of the country.

He appealed to honourable judges of the superior courts to stand firm by their colleague as the entire nation was supporting them and had an eye on them to rescue the country from dictatorial rule.

Earlier, Mr Afridi addressed the Charsadda Bar Association and said that today the lawyer community from Khyber to Karachi stood united in their struggle for the supremacy of the judiciary.

Mr Afridi also addressed the Charsadda Bar Council and demanded immediate release of all lawyers belonging to the NWFP detained by Punjab police in Lahore.