HARIPUR, June 3: Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel of Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, has asked lawyers to send at least 1,000 affidavits in support of Hamid Ali Khan and Ali Ahmed Kurd, lawyers of CJ’s legal team against whom a contempt of court case is being filed in the Supreme Court.

Addressing a public meeting outside the district courts here on Saturday, he said Mr Kurd and Mr Khan had opposed military rulers and their supporters at a seminar at the Supreme Court auditorium on May 26. He said that they had not made any vitriolic remarks against any person or institution. He advised the lawyers to endorse their views.

Referring to the Friday meeting of corps commanders which supported the policy of Gen Pervez Musharraf, he said the people were supporting Chief Justice Iftikhar who had challenged the ‘arrogance’ of a dictator.

“We, too, are in uniform. It is a war between two uniforms. Army generals will have to surrender before the law. They can no longer play with national institutions.”

Mr Ahsan said the poor people of this country needed justice and Justice Iftikhar was providing them this ‘rare’ thing. “And this was unacceptable to cruel, corrupt and criminal partners of the rulers,” he observed.

He also asked the people to reject ‘shameless and faceless’ politicians of Haripur who, he alleged, were a bunch of opportunists and did not believe in justice and rule of politics.

Ali Ahmed Kurd said: “Yes, we are rebels of this dictatorial rule. We are treading a difficult path, but it is the only path which goes towards the truth. We are committed to continuing our fight against deception and corruption of the rulers.” He urged the people to shed the web of fear and live like a free and independent people. “Enough is enough. We cannot allow usurpers to play with the destiny of the people.”

Hamid Khan, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said that lawyers would not allow the generals to interfere in political, constitutional and civilian affairs of the country. He said it was the theme of their speeches at the Supreme Court seminar on May 26, but the government had tried to give it another colour.

“We love our armed forces. They are defenders of the country, but generals have installed them on civilian institutions. It is unacceptable to us,” he added. Nawaz Khan Swati, president of the Bar Association of Haripur, condemned the ban on live coverage of the chief justice’s visit and said it showed that the regime was on the back foot.