Pakistan Premier’s Backers Storm Court

The embattled Pakistani chief justice sought army protection for the Supreme Court on Friday after a mob stormed the courthouse, forcing him to adjourn a contempt of court hearing against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

If found guilty, Sharif could be removed from power. No new date was set for the interrupted hearing.

Several thousand protesters shouting slogans against Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who is locked in a bitter power struggle with Sharif, surged past police and pushed their way into the courthouse.

The mob, made up mostly of the youth wing of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League, appeared to be led by several of the prime minister’s own legislators in the provincial and national assemblies.

The chief justice fled the white marble courthouse and, in a letter delivered later to President Farooq Leghari, asked that the army be deployed.

Shah accused Sharif of orchestrating the attack, busing in demonstrators and guaranteeing that the police did not intercede.

The quarrel between the prime minister and the chief justice started several months ago over the appointment of five new judges to the Supreme Court. Shah and Sharif argued over who should be appointed.

Shah won, but not before he resurrected corruption charges against Sharif and suspended a constitutional amendment that had barred lawmakers from voting against their party on legislation.

Sharif criticized Shah’s decision to suspend that amendment, which resulted in a contempt of court charge. In Pakistan, it is a crime to publicly criticize the judiciary.