Lawyers gather for 'Long March' against Musharraf

(10 Jun 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Various of police outside Multan airport
2. Lawyers chanting slogans
3. Arrival of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry at Multan airport with lawyers
4. Chaudhry holds his hands up high
5. Chaudhry's car leaving airport
6. Security on side of the road
7. Top shot of Chaudhry's car and rally
8. Mid of lawyers chanting slogans
9. Chaudhry gets out of car
10. Chaudhry gets into another car
11. Chaudhry waving to camera
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Aitzaz Ahsan, President Supreme Court Bar Association:
"Musharraf is already history. We are not stopping at Musharraf, or at his doorstep, because he is history. We want parliament to exercise its authority and power in removing all obstacles in the way of the independent judiciary, the brave judges who did not take oath to the military command, and stood by their own oath and they are lead by Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, chief justice of Pakistan. We want his restoration. And the Americans may better, and the West may better make a quick choice between Justice Dogar and Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry."
13. Wide of scene
STORYLINE
Pakistan's deposed chief justice arrived in Multan on Tuesday to join a protest rally led by lawyers demanding the reinstatement of judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf.
Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry was cheered by supporters as he arrived at Multan, the main gathering point of the rally, which was to move to Lahore and finally Islamabad later this week.
The so-called "Long March" was expected to culminate with a rally and a sit-in in front of parliament in the capital, as part of the protesters' efforts to intensify pressure on Musharraf to resign.
The lawyers' movement, which spearheaded protests against Musharraf last year, is demanding that the new civilian administration quickly reinstate the judges.
"Musharraf is already history. We are not stopping at Musharraf, or at his doorstep, because he is history," said the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association in Multan on Tuesday.
"We want parliament to exercise its authority and power in removing all obstacles in the way of the independent judiciary, the brave judges who did not take oath to the military command, and stood by their own oath and they are lead by Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry," he added.
Musharraf ousted dozens of judges in November during a burst of emergency rule imposed as he faced legal challenges to staying on as president.
The move outraged lawyers and his political opponents, who were already angry over an earlier attempt by the president to depose Chaudhry.
The demonstrations are heightening tension between ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party and its senior coalition partner, the party of Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of the slain former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto.
Sharif was due to fly back to Pakistan from London on Tuesday to join the protests.
Both parties say they want to reinstate the judges fired by the president last year to avoid legal challenges to his rule, but they have disputed the mechanics.
Sharif says the judges should be restored quickly via an executive order from the prime minister, but Zardari wants to link their return to a package of constitutional changes.
The parties also appear to differ on how to approach common archrival Musharraf, who has said he will not step down.
Sharif wants him impeached and put on trial for treason.
Zardari has taken a softer tone.
The shaky coalition also faces other challenges, including an ailing economy and ongoing Islamic militancy, a major concern of Western nations.
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