RAWALPINDI: Deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has vowed to continue struggle for the freedom of judiciary. Addressing Rawalpindi Bar on Saturday, the deposed CJ expressed satisfaction over support that the lawyers’ movement got from all across the world. Justice Iftikhar said he was all alone when Musharraf’s government sacked him on March 9, but now he enjoys massive support from lawyers and people.

Justice Iftikhar said the rulers couldn’t make wrong decisions in the presence of an independent judiciary. He said that media freedom greatly contributed to strengthening lawyers’ movement. Highlighting need for an independent judiciary, the deposed CJ said it was also enshrined in the constitution of 1974. He said the country would prosper if the judiciary has support of society and political forces.

Supreme Court Bar association former President Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan Saturday said lawyers community went to Karachi with a message of peace on May 12 last year but now some elements want to file murder cases against them.

Addressing Rawalpindi Bar here on Saturday, he said: “Do go ahead and file cases against us but then make sure to bring to trial those who showed their fists on that fateful day. ” Those who showed fists have now become history, he added. Aitzaz Ahsan termed what is happening in Swat as nothing but ‘barbarism’. He said those creating propaganda against lawyers are actually bewildered by the force of movement for the independence of judiciary.

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ali Ahmed Kurd has said that the lawyers’ movement helped in the restoration of democracy in the county and it was now up to the present assemblies to restore all the deposed judges. Addressing Rawalpindi Bar here on Saturday, Kurd urged parliamentarians to restore the deposed judges before lawyers’ sit-in to be held on March 16. He said that lawyers would continue to stage sit-in till the reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.-SANA