New restrictions
ISLAMABAD, March 19: A turbulent day is expected in the city on Wednesday as the government has decided to keep political activists away from the Supreme Court when proceedings against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry resume there.
Only lawyers and journalists would be allowed access to the Supreme Court building on showing their duty cards, according to the decision taken by the Ministry of Interior on Sunday.
Official sources said violation of Section 144 in place in the city would be checked and no public gathering outside the Supreme Court building would be allowed.
It will be the chief justice’s third appearance before the Supreme Judicial Council since he was declared “non-functional” by the government on March 9. The previous two were marred by clashes between security forces and his supporters.
A senior security official urged lawyers coming to the Supreme Court to prove their identity and also point out strangers mingling in them because, he said, terrorists could try to gain entry disguised as lawyers.
He said same security measures would be in place on March 21 as were taken on March 16 on the occasion of the second hearing of the reference against the chief justice.
Islamabad would be sealed off early in the morning and police checkpoints will deny entry to suspect vehicles and political workers.
Source: Dawn
Date:3/20/2007
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