Journey is thorny but the movement will succeed: Iftikhar Chaudhry

The deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry Wednesday said the journey of lawyers is very tortuous and long; however, they will succeed in their bid to restore the free judiciary.Addressing a lawyers’ conference at Multan High Court Bar here, he said the lawyers are struggling for the supremacy of the law and constitution and independent judiciary for at least 15 months and they deserve felicitations on the same.He said the dream of supremacy of the law and constitution and independent judiciary would be materialized son.Iftikhar Chaudhry said he, at the time of assuming the CJ office, vowed to provide justice to people, as the people know that only free judiciary can get them the well-deserved justice. He maintained that if the judiciary is held supreme, it would give sense of security among the people.

He said the number ‘9’ has assumed great importance in the national life.Explaining his point, he said March 9, 2007 was the starting point of lawyers movement, March 9, 2008 is another important day in national history; April 9 is the date when the gory incidents happened on Karachi streets; and lastly, June 9 is the date when lawyers’ leaders including Muneer A Malik and Rashid Rizwi decided to initiated the Long March on her realization of the importance of the lawyers drive to restore the free judiciary.He said the lawyers’ movement has entered a very vital phase.

The deposed Chief Justice made special mention of a woman who brought her four-month baby and another infant of two years from Hyderabad; he paid great homage to the lady.The deposed chief justice said, ‘A baby girl fell into a gutter an lost her life, on this, I took a suo motu action and summoned the local government, after which the bereaved family got the damages,’ adding now the people are sure that only the justice would give relief to the people.He urged the people to work for the restoration of the judiciary.Wrapping up his speech, he thanked the people and said the destination has drawn near, as the people have given lot of sacrifices for the independence of the judiciary.

Earlier, the caravans of lawyers, representatives of civil society and the workers of various political parties arrived here from various parts of the country including Karachi, Quetta yesterday night.The lawyers conference was held here where various lawyers’ leaders including Aitezaz Ahsan and Ali Ahmed Kurd addressed.Speaking on the occasion, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan said the lawyers are struggling for the future of Pakistan.He said Pervez Musharraf has become the part of past and now he standing on the last leg.Aitezaz maintained that the Parliament did not register being the sovereign from February 18 to date.On this occasion, he urged the people to raise slogans regarding the restoration of the judiciary not ‘Go Musharraf Go!’ Aitezaz claimed that the exiled leadership traced their steps back to the country only because of lawyers movement.

Earlier the lawyers’ leader Ali Ahmed Kurd said the assembly stands as nothing without an independent judiciary, adding lawyers are very peaceful people.The power of people is with us, he said.‘We want to strengthen the assembly,’ he said demanding the parliament should keep its pledge of restoring the judges.The Long Marches will continue happening until Musharraf goes, he added.Meantime on the special directives from PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, the containers and barbed wires are being removed.