Lawyers movement

November 3, 2007 was one of the darkest days in the history of Pakistan when sixty judges were forcibly removed and the CJ was put under house arrest along with his family. It could also be considered as one of the finest days as it united the people, rekindled hope, initiated the fight for an independent judiciary and started a massive movement against the army rule resulting in the ouster of Musharraf. While the world has recognised the Lawyers Movement, the Parliament almost one year later has dashed the hopes of 160 million people of Pakistan because of its minus one formula. This article looks at the rise and fall of this complex and fascinating movement.
It started when Justice Iftikhar refused to bow down to the intense gruelling in the President's camp office. Musharraf sent a flimsy reference to the Supreme Judicial Council in March 2007 which after a legal battle was thrown out. On November 2 Aitzaz filed an application stating that the government may change the composition of the Bench by adopting extra-constitutional measures which could mean either by martial law, PCO or emergency. On November 3 at 6:15 pm the seven deposed Supreme Court (SC) judges passed an order on the application restraining the government from undertaking any action which is contrary to the independence of the judiciary. The same evening the judges were put under house arrest. Later Justice Dogar passed a short order justifying the November 3 Order. The NRO which benefited many, destroyed the transition to genuine democracy and ridiculed the accountability process was also added to the short Order by the judges.