World | Pakistan
House of Chaudhry attorney attacked
Unidentified gunmen yesterday fired more than a dozen shots at the house of an attorney for Pakistan's suspended chief justice in Karachi, two days ahead of a planned visit by the top judge to the city to speak to lawyers.
- By Imtiaz Shah, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 May 11, 2007
Karachi: Unidentified gunmen yesterday fired more than a dozen shots at the house of an attorney for Pakistan's suspended chief justice in Karachi, two days ahead of a planned visit by the top judge to the city to speak to lawyers.
Munir A. Malik, the lawyer said two of about 15 shots hit a lounge, where he and one of his daughters were sitting, but injuring no one.
"It's a miracle that we are safe," Malik said.
Police also confirmed the attack and said they have registered a case against "unknown gunmen."
Malik, who refused to blame anyone, said the attack was aimed to pressure those lawyers who were campaigning for reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
"I am not afraid and the attack will not deter me from representing the chief justice," Malik said.
In March, President Pervez Musharraf suspended Chief Justice Chaudhry and ordered a judicial inquiry into accusations of misconduct and misuse of authority.
Serious challenge
The move outraged the legal community, which sees it as an attack on judicial independence, and galvanised opposition to Musharraf in the run-up to elections.
The row has blown up into the most serious challenge to Musharraf's authority since the army chief seized power in 1999.
Observers say Musharraf faces no imminent political threat because he enjoys the backing of the military but the crisis has weakened his position and could affect his plans.
Musharraf is due to seek re-election in September or October and wants to be re-elected by the national and provincial assemblies before they are dissolved for elections due around the turn of the year.
Chaudhry is due to travel to Karachi tomorrow and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a partner in the ruling coalition would also hold a rally in the city on the same day to protest against political tricks "in the name of the independence of judiciary."
The provincial Sindh government, where MQM is the majority partner, requested Chaudhry to defer his planned visit on security issues.
Political tension
The provincial government, in a latter, said the political tension in the city was on the rise and security agencies were unanimous in their assessment that there could be "armed clashes and bloodshed."
"There are also intelligence reports that terrorist groups may take advantage of the environment to launch terrorist attacks," the provincial government said.
"The postponement of the scheduled visit by the chief justice would be in the larger interest of the people."
Sabotage plan
Police said they have arrested at least 12 people overnight who planned to sabotage chief justice planned rally in the city.
"We have also seized weapons from them and they accepted that they were planning to carry out terrorist activities during the chief justice rally," Azhar Ali Farooqui, the city police chief said.
Last weekend, Chaudhry attracted tens of thousands of supporters on a trip from Islamabad to the city of Lahore where he told a big rally that states ignored the rule of law and basic rights faced destruction.
'HOOLIGANISM'
Bar association condemns firing
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) yesterday strongly condemned firing at the residence of its president Munir A. Malik in Karachi, linking the incident to the ongoing anti-government campaign of the lawyer community.
The SCBA president is one of the six lawyers of suspended chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry fighting a legal battle at the Supreme Court after being charged by President Pervez Musharraf with misconduct and abuse of authority.
A statement issued by the association here said the "act of hooliganism" was intended to "overawe and damage" the peaceful campaign of lawyers for upholding the independence of the judiciary and the supremacy of the constitution.
It said lawyers would observe a country-wide protest today, boycotting courts and holding demonstrations. The SCBA urged the authorities to take immediate action against those responsible for the firing at the residence of its chief, which it described as an "act of terrorism".
- Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
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