PAKISTAN:Thousands of boisterous opposition supporters massed outside Pakistan's supreme court yesterday in the largest show of support yet for the beleaguered chief justice Muhammad Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Activists from across the political spectrum massed outside as Mr Chaudhry faced disciplinary hearings inside. Thousands hurled colourful insults at president Pervez Musharraf, chanting "Musharraf, dog" and "America has a pet, it wears a uniform".
Mr Musharraf is facing his greatest test since coming to power in a bloodless coup eight years ago. His clumsy attempt to fire Mr Chaudhry three weeks ago sparked widespread public revulsion and became a lightning rod for broader discontent, in particular over his friendship with US president Bush.
Anwar Khan Afridi, a retired army colonel, held aloft medals for bravery won during the 1971 war with India. "I am returning these medals until democracy is restored," he said at yesterday's demonstration. He also vowed to surrender two plots of land and his €250-a-month army pension. "Musharraf is the army. He must take off his uniform."
Cricketing legend turned politician Imran Khan was also in the crowd. "We have never had an independent judiciary and elections mean nothing. This is the first ray of hope for democracy," he said.
Tensions have eased since the last demonstration on March 16th, when police beat protesters and ransacked a television station.
Yesterday riot police kept a watchful distance, waiting behind barriers of concrete and barbed wire. But there was still some trouble. Angry lawyers seized a small group of black-suited men shouting pro-Musharraf slogans whom they accused of being intelligence operatives.
Latif Khosa held a black tie he had ripped from a man's neck. "They were from the ISI," he said, referring to the military's Inter Services Intelligence agency.
The protest was also joined by hundreds of supporters from pro-Taliban religious parties who waved black and white flags and shouted "Allahu Akhbar".
Liberals admitted they were uncomfortable with their new allies. "Pakistan is between the devil and the deep blue sea," said Miangul Aurangzeb, pointing first to the president's office and then to the bearded religious supporters.
Mr Musharraf accuses Mr Chaudhry of misconduct by abusing his position to use state vehicles and get a job for his son. The judge's lawyers argued that the body convened to hear the case against him is biased and unconstitutional. The next hearing is scheduled for April 13th.
ISouth Waziristan tribesmen beat the drums of war for the first time since 2004. Ethnic Pashtun beat the dhol drums to raise a fighting force to expel al-Qaeda-linked foreign militants, mostly from Uzbekistan, from their area. - ( Guardian service)