Pakistani lawyers and workers numbering in thousands, in the final course of a long march, neared Islamabad on Friday, June 13, 2008 demanding the reinstatement of judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf. A huge cavalcade of over 400 cars and buses carrying the protestors passed the eastern city of Lahore the previous day and a massive crowd came out on the route to greet and cheer the passersby. Before the group of lawyers and workers arrived in Islamabad, security officials informed that 6,000 paramilitary troops and police were deployed in the area.

 

It was thereafter informed that the protestors will stage a sit-in outside parliament in order to press the government to restore the judges. Aitzaz Ahsan, the Supreme Court Bar Association chief, who is leading the march, said ‘Parliament must now respect the sentiments of people, the people have spoken and they want the restoration of the judges.’ Meanwhile, a strong security cover has been provided to President Musharraf’s homes and senior military officials in the garrison city, about 20 km beyond Islamabad.