KASUR, March 27: Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif, one of the deposed judges, said on Thursday Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s order to release deposed judges was a clear-cut indication to Pervez Musharraf that his days had been numbered.

Parliament, which had come out of a lot many sacrifices, should not give any ‘safe passage’ to President Musharraf as it would encourage the succeeding generals to follow in his footsteps. Instead, he (Musharraf) should be tried under law, Justice Sharif demanded while addressing the lawyers at Kasur bar auditorium.

Around 200 lawyers accorded him a warm welcome amid anti-Musharraf and anti-America chants. DBA President Sardar Qurban Dogar, Secretary-General Sardar Fakhar and exective member Chaudhry Imtiaz took oath of their offices, administered by Justice Sharif.

The deposed judge lauded the movement of the lawyers for a ‘sublime’ cause, observing that the movement had made a dictator take off his uniform and shaken the conscience of the world. Lawyers in US also raised voice through their respective platforms for the supremacy of law in Pakistan, he said, adding that the campaign had also encouraged the two exiled politicians to return home for the restoration of democracy.

Justice Sharif, who described the recent election outcome as a silent revolution, appreciated Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari for not letting US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher interfere and for voicing their stance that it was up to parliament to decided key issues like terrorism plaguing the country.

Later, the lawyers (headed by Justice Khwaja Sharif and DBA president Sardar Qurban Dogar) rallied to the Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah shrine where they prayed for the restoration of judiciary.

He said the judges dictated by the PCO had no legal status. In his view, Aitzaz Ahmad was the ideal choice for prime ministerial slot and Justice Wajihuddin (retired) deserved to be made president.