Lawyer Protests Rattle Pakistani Courts
Hundreds of lawyers have taken to the streets of Pakistan to protest the suspension of the nation’s chief justice.
Hundreds of lawyers have taken to the streets of Pakistan to protest the suspension of the nation’s chief justice, the Chicago Tribune reports.
The lawyers wear dark suits and ties, shout and, in some cases, throw rocks. Two lawyers threatened to kill themselves and others have staged hunger strikes. Some courts have reported lawyer shortages because of the protests.
The lawyers claim President Pervez Musharraf wants to intimidate the judicial system to ensure his re-election later this year. Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry was removed for allegedly abusing his power.
Last week supporters of the chief justice roughed up two government lawyers, one of whom said he would no longer handle the case against the judge, according to the Tribune.
