Thousands demand Musharraf resign

Thousands of lawyers, journalists and opposition activists rallied in the city of Lahore, demanding that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resign for suspending a popular Supreme Court judge and enacting restrictions on the media.

Some of the 7,000 people in front of the provincial assembly shouted, “Go, Musharraf, go!” while others taped their mouths shut to symbolize censorship.

The protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations against Musharraf, who critics say has become increasingly authoritarian as he seeks to extend his rule with a new five-year presidential term this fall. The army chief seized power in a coup in 1999.

The media have also been under government pressure since March, when Musharraf suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry for alleged misconduct, triggering nationwide protests by lawyers and opposition parties.

Chaudhry has challenged his suspension in a petition before the Supreme Court, and private news channels have broadcast his rallies, showing tens of thousands of his supporters chanting slogans against Musharraf.

Critics say Musharraf has tried to sideline the independent-minded judge in case of any legal challenges to his bid for a new term. The government has denied any political motive, with Musharraf saying he has evidence that Chaudhry abused his office.

Military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Mian Nadeem Ijaz Ahmad alleged that Chaudhry had regularly sought information from the spy agency about fellow judges for his own “database.”

Authorities have warned the media, especially private television channels, to temper their coverage of the crisis and avoid slights of the military or judiciary.

Musharraf passed an order this week giving a media regulator the power to seize equipment and seal the premises of offending broadcasters or distributors.

The order prompted a series of media protests, including one Thursday by about 100 reporters who chanted, “We want freedom!” in front of the federal parliament.

Anwar Mahmood, a senior official at the Ministry of Information, said Thursday that the order had been suspended to allow talks between officials and media representatives.