KARACHI, March 13: The Central Executive Committee of the Pakistan Peoples Party has resolved to support the struggle of lawyers and their initiatives for the independence of judiciary and condemned the manhandling of the Chief Justice of Pakistan while bringing him to the Supreme Court for hearing of the presidential reference.

Briefing journalists about the CEC and the Federal Council meeting here on Tuesday at Bilawal House, the PPP secretary general Jahangir Badar strongly condemned the manhandling and maltreatment of the CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and his family and demanded stern action against the concerned authorities. “Such brutal behaviour by state functionaries is inexcusable and we demand immediate.”

PPP Vice Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani presided over the meeting in the absence of Chairperson Benazir Bhutto. The meeting was called on the directives of Ms Bhutto to discuss the current political situation and the prevailing judicial crisis in the country.

PPP Deputy Secretary General Raza Rabbani said that it was a constitutional battle in which one organ of the state had attacked another in broad daylight. Flanked by PPP central and provincial information secretaries Sherry Rehman and Dr Fahmida Mirza, Mr Rabbani and Mr Badar said that all MNAs and MPAs of the party and other office bearers were directed to support and participate in the struggle of lawyers in their respective bars and constituencies.

They said the PPP fully endorsed the decisions taken by the Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association against the illegal action taken by General Pervaiz Musharraf that had dragged the country into worst constitutional crisis in its history.

To a question about the return of Ms Bhutto, the PPP leaders said the party would advise her to return at an appropriate time.

Mr Badar on behalf of the party assured the legal fraternity of continued support in their struggle for the independence of the judiciary. He announced the next meeting of the CEC would be held on March 16 in Islamabad.