By Muhammad Najeeb
Islamabad(IANS) : The fourth day after emergency in Pakistan began Wednesday with more protests and arrests outside the Supreme Court as lawyers and sacked judges continued their struggle against military dictatorship.
More than 100 lawyers gathered outside the apex court at 8 a.m. demonstrating and chanting slogans against military rule and emergency. Shahzad Malik, a spokesperson for the lawyers, said three more lawyers were picked up.
As the federal cabinet approved emergency in the country, which was imposed by President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday evening, more than 60 terminated judges of the Supreme Court and high courts remain defiant and have vowed to continue protesting.
“We will side with lawyers for restoration of constitution and democracy in the country,” former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said in another message from his residence where he is under arrest.
Business circles face uncertain days because of lack of information and the turmoil in the country. The Karachi Stock Exchange started the day Wednesday on a negative note with foreign investors going on the sidelines.
While the rumblings continued, the administration in nearby Rawalpindi refused permission to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to hold a rally on Nov 9.
But party chief Benazir Bhutto, who came to Islamabad from Karachi Tuesday evening and reportedly held a 90 minute meeting with Musharraf, said that she would hold the rally under any circumstances.
Though government sources said vice chief of army staff General Ashfaq Kiani was also present at the meeting, Bhutto has denied that it took place. She says her last contact with Musharraf was on Oct 18 after the blast in her rally in which 150 people were killed.
Musharraf, who came into power with support from the moderate forces, has lost their support totally after the emergency.
Cricketer turned politician Imran Khan, who was Musharraf’s big supporter after the 1999 military coup, is now his most vocal opponent.
“The dictator’s days are numbered and he would be going any time,” he said in an interview with ARY channel from his hideout. He went underground on Saturday when police raided his residence in Lahore to arrest him.
He said statements coming from the US showed that it was a “friend of Musharraf and not of Pakistan”. According to him, Pakistanis now need to very careful in making friendships.