Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 5, 2007

Pakistanis Rally in Support of Suspended Chief Justice
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1759988:A6F02AD83191E160834E2EBBCF959AEB9574F7DCC14957C0 President Pervez
Musharraf suspended Chaudhry in March, charging him with misconduct
Thousands of Pakistanis cheered and shouted words of encouragement to
the nation's suspended chief justice as his convoy traveled from the
capital, Islamabad, to the eastern city of Lahore.







Pakistan's ousted Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry looks out
from a vehicle as he departs for Lahore, 5 May 2007

The automobile carrying Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry was strewn with
rose petals and surrounded by well-wishers Saturday, as the motorcade
slowly passed through the streets.

The embattled justice spoke briefly upon arriving in the city of
Gujrat.  He called for unity among his supporters, and he urged
lawyers and activists to stand "shoulder-to-shoulder."

Chaudhry is due in Lahore later Saturday to deliver a speech to the
Lahore Court Bar Association.

Rallies have been held across Pakistan since President Pervez
Musharraf suspended Chaudhry in March, charging him with misconduct. 
Chaudhry and his supporters argue that the suspension is not
constitutional.

On Friday, police in Lahore detained about 400 opposition activists
ahead of a planned demonstration.  Authorities called the move a
preventive measure.

A judicial panel hearing the case against Chaudhry is scheduled to
reconvene May ninth.

Critics of General Musharraf accuse him of trying to weaken the
judiciary ahead of possible legal challenges to his attempts to
continue as Pakistan's president and military chief.

The government has not specified the charges against Chaudhry.  Media
reports refer to allegations that he used his position to help his son
get a public sector job.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.


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