Lawyers and political parties stage protest: journalists beaten up in Karachi

Thousands of lawyers and opposition activists on Friday launched fresh protests to vent their anger over reference against Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who was once again received by scores of flag-waving supporters who gave him a hero's welcome when he arrived at Supreme Court along with his defence counsel to appear before the Supreme Judicial Council.
This time, it was a massive protest on Constitution Avenue where strict security arrangements were taken to meet any unpleasant situation. Smaller political parties and district bar councils and associations also joined the protest. They raised slogans like 'Go Musharraf, go', 'Stop murder of Judiciary' and 'Reinstate Chief Justice'.
Heavy contingent of police and rangers did not resist the supporters of Justice Iftikhar going to the Supreme Court. However, there were a few clashes at entry points of the federal capital. Mainstream opposition parties were led by their top leaders, including Alliance for Restoration of Democracy Chairman Amin Fahim, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Fazlur Rehman and others.
Although the opposition parties succeeded in bringing people on the streets in much greater numbers, they failed to stage protests from one platform and remained outside the Supreme Court in separate groups. Protestors were overjoyed to learn that the Supreme Judicial Council had decided to hold open hearing, but it proved a rumour.
Addressing the crowd, Qazi said that Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry had provided political parties an opportunity to oust President Musharraf. About widening cracks in opposition ranks, he said they were all united to uphold the sanctity of judiciary and to send military back to barracks.
However, he came hard on PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, saying that she was striking a deal with a military dictator. He told protestors that MMA would quit NWFP and Balochistan governments at an appropriate time, to uphold democracy in the country.
Amin Fahim said that the protest movement would continue till reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar. He demanded of the government to immediately withdraw the reference. "No matter what verdict the SJC gives, the people have given their decision today that the Musharraf government has to go," Fazalur Rehman told protest gathering in front of the Supreme Court.
He said that the Musharraf regime had put Pakistan at stake to fight US war on terror, but the West was still not happy with Pakistan's role. As was earlier announced, the legal fraternity distanced itself from political parties and put up its own protest against removal of Chief Justice.
Civil society organisations and human rights activists also turned up in large numbers and protested against Presidential reference. Protestors also burnt tyres and chanted slogan 'Go Musharraf, go'.
When Justice Iftikhar came out of the Supreme Court building, his supporters were waiting in scorching heat to assure him of their all-out support. He appeared to be composed and determined, but did not interact with media persons. The legal fraternity and opposition parties have announced to put up an 'effective' protest on April 18, the day Supreme Judicial Council will meet here again.
AGENCIES ADD: Hundreds of lawyers blocked a busy road in Karachi and boycotted courts for the day. Some lawyers carried sticks, witnesses said. Some of the lawyers roughed up journalists and broke the video cameras of media representatives covering the rally, they added.