Lawyers’ march on capital for judges return

A mammoth rally from across Pakistan converged on the Capital on Friday to press the new government to reinstate the judges ousted by President Musharraf on November 3 after imposing emergency.

They are demanding of President Musharraf to immediately quit the office or face the people wrath for what he had done to the country during his eight years in office.

These peoples in tens of thousands from all walks of life including women, children, young and old of different shades and opinion have thronged Islamabad pressing for reinstatement of deposed judges, ouster and hanging of President Pervez Musharraf. Moving force behind the long march Aitzaz Ahsan said: “We are going after an ideology.

We have a dream of an independent judiciary. There could be no democracy without an independent judiciary.” “These are Musharraf’s last days. We will turn the security state (Pakistan) into welfare state,” charged Aitzaz told the rally, which, according to some analysts, was the largest in Islamabad history.

People of age groups from 1 to 90 both male and female, from across the country including the troubled tribal areas participated in the lawyers’ long march aiming at restoration of pre-November 3 judiciary that declined to take oath under Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) that came with Musharraf-imposed emergency.

Besides legal fraternity of Pakistan, political parties including Pakistan Muslim League (N), Tehreek e Insaf, Jamat e Islami, Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Khaksar Tehreek participated in the long march while civil society organisations including Omar Asghar Khan Foundation, Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS), PhD Doctors Association took part in the long march.

The caravans of lawyers, political parties and civil society activists from different parts of the country and Azad Kashmir started gathering at parade ground in front of President House and Parliament House.

The Long March started its journey from southern Punjab city of Multan on June 10 and after passing through Sahiwal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujarat, Jhelum, Gujjar Khan, it entered Rawalpindi late morning on Friday.

The long march was given warm welcome at Swan Bridge, High Court Chowk, Katcheri Chowk, Marrer Chowk, Liaqat Bagh, Committee Chowk, Chandni Chowk, Shamsabad, Faizabad, Zero point, Aabpara. The participants of long march passed 20-km distance in about 12 hours.

The Long march brought the life to a standstill in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as roads remained blocked and shops closed. Protesters, including lawyers chanted “Hang Musharraf!” and “Article 6 Now”.

Government had made high security arrangements in twin cities including the sensitive areas of Constitutional Avenue and Diplomatic Enclave. The Constitutional Avenue was completely sealed-off after putting containers on its connecting roads while heavy contingents of police and rangers were deployed to meet any eventuality. Alternate arrangements were made for city traffic and diversions were made to make sure the smooth sailing of the traffic.

No hurdles were created for people in reaching Islamabad to take part in the long march. After end of the long march it is being expected that the legal fraternity will hold a sit in at parade ground till the restoration of the judiciary. In Rawalpindi, government made stringent security arrangements and heavy contingents of Police and Rangers were deployed outside all the civil and military installations.

All roads leading to Army House (President’s Camp Office) and General Headquarters (GHQ) were blocked with containers. “Musharraf must be hanged. He must be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution,” said Amir Jamaat-e-Islami in his address to the rally.

If the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-(Nawaz) realised their responsibilities, the reinstatement of deposed judges would not be far cry, he said. Today Pakistan needs to have real sovereignty… sovereignty from the US, he said. Lieutenant General Hameed Gul (Retd) said it is not real democracy. The present government came as result of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), he said. “It is testing time for the PPP whether it upholds democracy or stick to NRO,” he added.