Pakistanis Protest Top Judge's Ouster

(AP)  Police fired tear gas at rock-throwing demonstrators Friday and detained scores of political activists, including an opposition party leader and a former national president, as angry protests broke out over the ouster of Pakistan's top judge.

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf suspended Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry a week ago over unspecified allegations that he misused his office — drawing accusations that the military ruler wants a compliant judiciary ahead of national elections.

The action has proved deeply unpopular in Pakistan and has galvanized widespread opposition — from the public, liberal politicians and Islamic hard-liners alike — to Musharraf's 7½-year rule as he prepares to seek another presidential term this year.

Hundreds of supporters surrounded Chaudhry's car as he arrived at the court for a second hearing before a five-member panel of senior judges who are charged with deciding whether he should be fired or reinstated.

Police and paramilitary troops at roadblocks prevented more sympathizers from approaching the court building in Islamabad's government district.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad, the chief of the hard-line Islamist coalition, Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, and at least seven other MMA lawmakers were arrested and an Associated Press reporter saw them being driven away in a police vehicle.

One of the lawmakers, Mohammed Usman, told AP by phone from the police van that he was beaten by police outside the court.

"God will punish Musharraf for what he has done with the chief justice," he said.

Officers fired tear gas and charged one group of protesters with wooden batons near the court. Demonstrators responded by throwing rocks. Video shown on Pakistan's Geo TV channel also showed police riding armored cars and firing what appeared to be rubber bullets.

Police later raided the office of Geo, which Thursday had one of its most popular news shows pulled off air — apparently for its coverage of the legal crisis.

"Police have attacked our office, they are breaking windows. They are beating our staff. They have used tear gas shells. Even our female staff have been hurt. They are damaging our building," Geo's Islamabad bureau chief Hamid Mir said on the air.

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[tbweb]

--pwrslm

Exactly!! Well said! What people fail to realize is that the U.S. makes the best choice it can, but that sometimes all the choices are bad choices, so when the U.S. picks the best bad choice it looks likes the U.S. supports whatever it is, but the reality is the U.S. had no other "choice". The "Lesser Evil" theory!

[pwrslm]

I think the best way to put is, which of the two evils should we uphold?

We have no other choice.

Kind of like back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, when all those folks claim we created/supported the Taliban, and Saddam Husseins Bathist party. We had no choice.

[pwrslm]

The judicial activism in Pakistan is dangerous to the world. These so called judges are pushing for Islamic Sharia. If Pakistan becomes a hard line Islamic nation like that, with the Nuclear weapons they have, it could spark a huge conflict with India, resulting in both nations using thier nuclear arsenals. India has something like 2-300 warheads, Pakistan only has a 1-2 dozen.

Musharrif refuses to allow that to happen, he is first and foremost a military leader, and his coup prevented the men who created the Taliban in Afghanistan from coming to power in Pakistan. There is a high population of radical/orthodox Muslims in Pakistan who would probably use or provide nukes for use against other nations, the US, Brittain, and Russia, to name a few.

[diplomacy3]

Look what happens when the Chief Executive clashes with Chief Justice. The public outcry and a negative response from his country's entire judicial system is beyond President's expectation. He wants to retract but it seems time is not on his side, and his own 'selection' for the next term is in jeopardy.

[dargay]

I was one of Musharraf's strongest supporters, but now I think he has gone mad. The way he assaulted the judiciary, and how the police have attacked protesters and media is absolutely disgraceful.

Musharraf is beyond his utility to Pakistanis. He needs to go.