HYDERABAD, May 30: Lawyers want to see country’s affairs running according to the constitution and not under arbitrary powers or direction of any individual, said deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

In his telephonic address from Islamabad to lawyers of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawab-shah, Badin and Hyderabad District Bar Association on Friday, he said Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s Pakistan would be made citadel of rule of law.

Lawyers were in high spirit and, amid slogans in support of the deposed chief justice, they resolved to make the long march of June 10 a historic event.

Justice Chaudhry said he was well aware of the ongoing struggle which began 14 months ago and saw lawyers sacrificing their lives and contributing blood during the movement. He said the movement’s goals envisaged supremacy of constitution and rule of law in the society.

He said lawyers could see injustices and that it was not necessary justice should be dispensed only through high or apex court but there were state institutions — subordinate judiciary and executive — that should ensure justice to people.

Justice Chaudhry underscored the need for creating sense among people that a citizen, either taxpayer or poor, should feel secure in a society where they did not have to pay heavy price to seek justice and their fundamental rights were protected.

He said it was clear that ever since March 9, 2007 judges of subordinate and superior judiciary provided justice to citizens to the best of their ability. He said fruits of current struggle had reached 160 people who were supporting the on-going struggle.

He said the nation was suffering for the last 60 years. “No one would accept any system where fundamental rights are usurped and constitution is not followed”, he said.

Justice Chaudhry expressed joy in his address on telephone to lawyers of Hyderabad. He said Hyderabad was his second home as he had studied there.

“Because of my friends I always feel that I am with you and am grateful to you for love and affection extended to me,” said Justice Chaudhry.

Deposed Justice of Supreme Court Ghulam Rabbani in his brief speech described Justice Chaudhry as real chief justice. He said no unconstitutional step could overshadow his stature. He said when President Musharraf himself had admitted that November 3 act was illegal how apex court judges could be called deposed judges. He was hopeful the current struggle would succeed.

Mirpurkhas District Bar Association President Salahud-din Panwhar said that those elements were day-dreaming who believed they had broken the unity of lawyers after February 18 elections. He said regardless of their political affiliations Sindh’s lawyers would be in forefront in long march.

Nawabshah DBA President Ali Mohammad Dahiri in his hard-hitting speech targeted those lawyers who had accepted government positions. “We blacklist and declare them traitors”, he said.

Karachi Bar Association’s Mehmoodul Hassan said lawyers would not accept any proposal, curtailing tenure of chief justice or putting legitimate and illegitimate things together. He said that they did not accept PCO judges because by siding with Musharraf they too had lost their credibility.

Naheed Afzal asked PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari why he was not sharing plans with lawyers and said that he should not be afraid of the US ambassador when legal fraternity was behind him.