LAHORE, April 3: In yet another Thursday show, tireless lawyers reminded the government they were committed to the reinstatement of the judges deposed under the Nov 3 Provisional Constitution Order. Two lawyer rallies pressed the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N to honor their Murree Declaration to restore judges in 30 days.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Aitzaz Ahsan has delayed a long march on Islamabad and instead provided parliament with time to restore the deposed judges.
Even though the peculiar enthusiasm of lawyers was visible in the rallies, their attendance had dwindled to a half from its former shows.
Present among the lawyers were the workers of Tehrik-i-Khaksar, Concerned Citizens of Pakistan, Academic Staff association of University of the Punjab, Tehrik-e-Insaf and Women’s Action Forum.
Protesters, including women and children, resorted to slogans against President Pervez Musharraf and in favour of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Prior to the rallies, the general house of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) met and vowed to continue their struggle for the restoration of the judiciary.
LHCBA President Anwar Kamal said Mr Musharraf himself had admitted that he made an unconstitutional order on Nov 3, 2007, and the Supreme Court had not the power to endorse it. He added the prime minister had not favoured anybody when he ordered the release of judges during his first speech as it was his responsibility to follow the law.
LHCBA former president Ahmad Awais said it was the constitutional duty of parliamentarians to restore the judges. He said if they wanted the supremacy of the constitution in the country, they should restore all deposed judges as soon as possible.
He warned parliament not to amend the constitution to lessen the age limit of chief justice to remove Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry after restoring him. He said any such amendment would change the basic structure of the constitution, which parliament was not empowered to do so.
Wali Muhammad Khan said lawyers would not let Musharraf's acts after Nov 3 get legitimacy and would make sure that he faced proceedings under article 6 of the constitution.
Pakistan Bar Council member Hafiz Abdul Rehman Ansari said by giving an unprecedented reception to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the people of Balochistan had given message of love for the federation of Pakistan. He said more than 900 Baloch were among the missing people, who should be rescued after the restoration of the deposed judges.
Lahore Bar Association President Manzoor Qadir said lawyers’ rallies were a referendum against Musharraf.