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Suspended Pakistani judge to give speech

Pakistan's suspended top judge is to address a meeting of lawyers yesterday in his first public speech since his removal by President Pervez Musharraf, his attorneys said.

Musharraf's regime has been rocked by a series of protests and strikes by the legal fraternity and opposition groups since he dismissed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on March 9.

Chaudhry was driven from his home in Islamabad to the public meeting in the nearby city of Rawalpindi in his car, followed by a convoy of lawyers in some 50 vehicles, a photographer said.

The black-suited lawyers chanted "Long Live Justice Chaudhry" and "We are with you" as he left his home, the photographer said. Police did not intervene throughout the 13km route.

The judge was initially confined to his home after his suspension on charges of misconduct, although the authorities said he was not under house arrest.

Security outside his house was removed nearly two weeks ago, after a panel of top judges hearing the accusations against him declared that there should be no restrictions on his movement.

Chaudhry's expected address comes after secular opposition parties and Islamic hardliners who loathe Musharraf's support for the US-led "war on terror" held separate demonstrations on Monday.

Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, slammed opposition leaders for trying to "politicize a purely judicial matter."

Early protests against the sacking turned violent, including in Islamabad on March 16 when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators and ransacked the offices of a private television station.

Chaudhry is accused of getting promotions for his son and other abuses of power, which he denies.

Opponents say Musharraf is trying to weaken the judiciary in a bid to remain army chief past this year, when the Constitution says he is meant to give up the position.

He is also expected to seek re-election for another five-year presidential term by the outgoing parliament ahead of national polls due late this year or early next -- a move that could also spark legal challenges.
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