Posted on 03/12/2007 9:28:14 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Riot police clash with Pakistan lawyers Mon Mar 12, 10:58 AM ET
Baton-wielding riot police clashed with thousands of lawyers during a nationwide day of action in Pakistan against the sacking of the country's top judge, witnesses said Monday.
Dozens of people were hurt during the turmoil in the eastern city of Lahore, sparked by military ruler President Pervez Musharraf's suspension Friday of chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on misconduct charges.
Witnesses said around 3,000 lawyers wearing smart black suits and chanting "Down with Musharraf" dismantled barriers in an attempt to stage a sit-in outside the Lahore High Court building.
Police broke up the rally with truncheons and at least 20 lawyers were wounded, including senator Latif Khosa of the opposition Pakistan People's Party and his son, said local bar council president Mohammad Ahsan Dhoon.
Some policemen were injured as protesters pelted them with stones, police and witnesses said.
"We condemn the police brutality against unarmed lawyers. This will not deter us and we will continue our protest against Musharraf's illegal action," Dhoon said.
The riot police, with helmets, padded protective gear and plastic shields, used their batons to hit some lawyers. One lawyer was seen with blood streaming from a head wound.
Two lawyers were sent to hospital, one with a broken nose and the other with a head injury, while more than 50 received treatment at the Lahore High Court dispensary, doctor Irfan Elahi said.
Police said two lawyers were arrested and later released.
In Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, some 500 lawyers wearing black armbands torched portraits of Musharraf and blocked traffic outside the city's courts before dispersing peacefully, witnesses said.
Advocates boycotted the Supreme Court in Islamabad while lawyers also stayed away from courts in towns across central Punjab province and in the southwestern city of Quetta.
"It's a complete boycott of the superior and lower courts by all lawyers," Supreme Court Bar Association president Munir Malik told AFP.
Rights groups, opposition parties and lawyers have condemned the move by Musharraf -- a military ruler who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999 -- as an assault on the independence of the judiciary.
Musharraf says Chaudhry was abusing his position and has referred the case to the Supreme Judicial Council, Pakistan's top judicial accountability body. It will take up the case on Tuesday.
Chaudhry has since been confined to his official residence in Islamabad and journalists are barred from meeting him. The government denies reports that he is under house arrest.
He had been at loggerheads with the government since the Supreme Court overturned the sale of Pakistan's state-run steel mills in June 2006.
Analysts say he also took a firm stance on rights abuses and cases of missing people allegedly in government custody.
Next on Fox: "When Lawyers Attack!"
The Pakistan Cricket and Stickball team warms up for their World Tour.
Quick, the "victim" is getting away. Stone her, before someone else rapes her.
Oh man! I just don't understand those "Matrix" movies!
See? Lawyers are people, too. They have blood just like everyone else. As a lawyer, I wonder how I'd react if Pres. Bush removed Ruth Buzzi Ginsberg because she continually falls asleep during oral argument. Well, no; I'd probably like that.
Quick get Breck Boy Edwards!!!
Or is that him with his hair dyed?
Men in Black III
"I object!"
After refusing to count the "hanging chads" outside Lahore in the last elections...
BOrat is in Pakstein WHOA I didn't know LMAO
"If Hillary is President, maybe she will make me a NY Yankee!"
Post of the day....eerrrr night!
We can always use a good shortstop. Heck, if he can bat .300, sign him up!
Not another gutter ball... :( Shakespeare had it right....
"first, we kill all the lawyers"
I didn't know Pakistan had a Mr. Bean fan club.
Thanks!
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