WSJ : Pakistani Chief Justice Orders Release of Opposition Members

Pakistani Chief Justice Orders Release of Opposition Members

Associated Press | September 27, 2007

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan's chief justice on Thursday ordered the immediate release of detained opposition members, as Gen. Pervez Musharraf formalized his presidential candidacy for a new five-year term and security forces sealed off the capital to prevent a planned protest by angry attorneys.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry issued the edict after summoning police and government officials to explain who signed an order to close roads into Islamabad.

Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim said the government would abide by Justice Chaudhry's decision. "The court verdict regarding release of opposition workers will be fully implemented, and all those taken into custody under preventive laws will be freed," Mr. Azim said.

About 200 people -- including Javed Hashmi, acting president of ousted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party -- have been taken into custody around the country since late-night raids Saturday, officials have said. Opposition parties claim the number is much higher. The detentions have sparked sharp criticism, including from the U.S., Gen. Musharraf's biggest international ally. The government has defended the arrests as necessary to maintain law and order.

Ameer ul-Azeem, a spokesman for the opposition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, said the order was "good news," since more than 600 MMA leaders and workers were arrested. "The Supreme Court order gives us hope but and a lash to the government, but still I am doubtful that all of our workers would be released," Mr. Azeem said.

Overnight Wednesday, police blocked roads leading into Islamabad with trucks and shipping containers, letting virtually no one through, after lawyers on Wednesday said they would defy a ban on public gatherings of more than five people in Islamabad and stage a "historic" protest against Gen. Musharraf.

A massive security presence left the area around the Election Commission and the nearby Supreme Court deserted except for thousands of riot police, special forces commandos and plainclothes officers. "Why are they scared of peaceful protest? This is our basic right," said Munir Malik, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association. About 1,000 lawyers and supporters from opposition parties rallied in the eastern city of Lahore, vowing to continue their campaign for Gen. Musharraf's removal from office.

Pakistan's president has seen his popularity and power erode since his botched effort to fire the independent-minded Justice Chaudhry earlier this year. Lawyers led mass protests for his reinstatement, claiming the general was illegally interfering in the judiciary.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz went earlier Thursday to the Election Commission, along with some of the other 16 legislators who endorsed Gen. Musharraf's candidacy, to file the president's official nomination papers.

Mushahid Hussain, secretary-general of Gen. Musharraf's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q party, expressed confidence that Gen. Musharraf would win the Oct. 6 vote by federal and provincial legislators despite critics who say he cannot run while remaining army chief. "We have enough support for the victory," Mr. Hussain said.

With a blockade of Constitution Avenue -- one of the capital's main thoroughfares, lawyers had to walk the last stretch to file nomination papers for their candidate, retired Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed. Mr. Ahmed told a small group of lawyers outside the Supreme Court that he considered the country's best interests in deciding to run, adding that "the entire nation has united against a military dictator." "God willing, we will succeed," Mr. Ahmed said.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim, vice chairman of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, also filed his nomination papers. The PPP said Tuesday he would only contest the election if Gen. Musharraf is barred. That indicated the party did not plan to run directly against Gen. Musharraf, who has held monthslong talks with Ms. Bhutto that could see them share power after parliamentary elections due by January.

Syed Mohammed Iqtidar, a former medical college teacher in Lahore, also submitted his nomination papers.

Copyright © 2007 Associated Press