0
Police Gas Pakistan Lawyers
Protests supporting sacked chief justice turn violent
By Jason Farago
|
Posted Feb 21, 08 6:32 AM CST
|
Share
(Newser)
–
Police in Pakistan fired tear gas at a rally of about 100 lawyers in Karachi as the country's deposed chief justice, still under house arrest, roused supporters across the country on a smuggled mobile phone, calling for the incoming government to reinstate him and his colleagues. The justice, whom President Pervez Musharraf sacked during the state of emergency, told lawyers: "Victory is not far off now."
The chief justice has had his own phone lines cut but was able to speak to protesting attorneys in at least two cities. The leaders of the two victorious parties have different views on the suspended judges: Asif Ali Zardari wants a parliamentary debate on the issue, but Nawaz Sharif wants an immediate reinstatement of the judges.