Dawn : Crowds celebrate Pakistan judge's reinstatement

Crowds celebrate Pakistan judge's reinstatement

July 21, 2007

ISLAMABAD (AFP) -- Jubilant crowds Saturday celebrated the reinstatement of Pakistan's top judge Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry after the Supreme Court of Pakistan overturned his suspension by President Pervez Musharraf.

The top judge’s victory Friday sparked immediate festivities outside the court, with crowds of lawyers dancing and throwing flower petals.

Thousands of lawyers and opposition activists also took to the streets of major cities Karachi, Lahore and Multan Saturday in more jubilant rallies, chanting “Go, Musharraf Go!” and calling for free and fair elections.

“Our struggle for the cause of true democracy, rule of law and supremacy of the constitution will continue,” said Zulfikar Bukhari, head of Lahore's main lawyers' group as some 3,000 people rallied in the Punjab capital.