SUKKUR, Aug 1: President Musharraf should not only be impeached but also prosecuted by the government for the damage he caused to the country during his rule, including illegal sacking of 60 judges of the supreme and high courts in November last, said President Supreme Court Bar Association, Chuadhry Aitzaz Ahsan on Friday.

Speaking at ‘meet the press programme’ at Sukkur Press Club, Mr Ahsan lauded the support people lent to lawyers’ in their struggle for restoration of the judiciary.

Denouncing the constitutional package offered by Law Minister Farooq H. Naik, he said that it would ultimately result in validating the controversial action of November 3, 2007.

The constitutional package will be interpreted for making required amendments in constitution for paving way to indemnify last November’s issues, he said and added: “We will not accept it.”

Aitzaz pointing at the Presidency said that conspiracies were being hatched there to save the rule of one man at the stake of the constitution and the integrity and solidarity of Pakistan.

The pressure of lawyers’ struggle had started producing results as the law minister was offering fresh oath to all judges, along with reverting their benefits sans (deposed) Chief Justcie Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, he said.

He called upon all 60 judges to stay united because acceptance by even few would send wrong signals i.e., receipt of November last’s dismissal.

Recounting the progress and political developments in the US and Europe, Ahsan said Pakistan too, was in dire need of a free judiciary as it would go a long way in developing its economy.

The rulers were trying their level best to create friction among bars and lawyers, he said. Giving credence to his statement, he cited last few weeks’ example when few among lawyers organised addresses by Chief Justice of Pakistan Abdul Hameed Dogar in Sindh. He termed it a flop show.

Aitzaz conceded that differences were cropping up between the leaders and workers of the PPP over the restoration of judges as those who matter were against it.

He expressed shock and dismay over allegations propelled by some leaders against Naheed Khan and Senator Safdar Abbasi as the two were very close to Benazir Bhutto.

Judges’ restoration package was termed by Mr Aitzaz as a form of retreat but minus deposed CJ. He warned against taking action under Article 58/2B for the dissolution of Parliament adding that lawyers would strongly resent it.

Lawyers favour strong Parlia-ment as it was an elected one while enjoying the support of coalition parties, he said. He called upon the parliamentarians to take the bold step of announcing restoration of judges through an executive order. He further warned them to refrain from heeding to pleas of the unelected sitting in the ranks of the government.

Soon after the restoration of Iftikhar Chaudhry, the Supreme Court Bar Association would file a petition regarding soaring food prices, increasing utility charges, both announced and unannounced power outages, and discriminatory policies of the government creating huge divide between the haves and haves-not, Ahsan said. Loadshedding duration in Islamabad was for an hour or two, while in rest of the country it spanned from 10 to 16 hours which was sheer discrimination and against the spirit of the constitution, he concluded.