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Anger at Pakistan judge hearing Anger at Pakistan judge hearing
(20 minutes later)
Hundreds of Pakistanis have gathered at the country's Supreme Court to protest against President Pervez Musharraf's decision to suspend the chief justice.Hundreds of Pakistanis have gathered at the country's Supreme Court to protest against President Pervez Musharraf's decision to suspend the chief justice.
Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was removed from office on 9 March, is due in court to face a judicial hearing.Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was removed from office on 9 March, is due in court to face a judicial hearing.
The crowd included lawyers and political opponents of Gen Musharraf.The crowd included lawyers and political opponents of Gen Musharraf.
Correspondents say the removal of the Mr Chaudhry is being seen as an attempt by Gen Musharraf to hang on to power in an election year. Correspondents say the removal of the Mr Chaudhry is being seen as an attempt by Gen Musharraf to stifle judicial independence in an election year.
The BBC's Phil Mackie in Islamabad described how hundreds of people were swept into the court as Mr Chaudhry's car arrived. The judge has a reputation judicial activism in cases involving the controversial privatisation of state assets and the fate of missing people allegedly abducted by the security forces.
Angry lawyers were prominent among the crowd, with flags being waved and anti-Musharraf slogans filling the air. The main charge against Mr Chaudhry is that he used his authority to have his son appointed to a prestigious government position.
Mr Chaudhry has a reputation for judicial independence which is said to have irritated President Musharraf. Mr Chaudhry denies any wrongdoing, and has called for the closed hearings to be held in public.
The main charge against him is that he used his authority to have his son appointed to a prestigious government position. Advocates angry
Mr Chaudhry denies any wrongdoing. The BBC's Phil Mackie in Islamabad says hundreds of people swept into the court as Mr Chaudhry's car arrived.
This struggle is basically for a constitutional rule and democracy in Pakistan Muhammad Ikram ChaudhryProtester Angry lawyers were prominent among the crowd, with flags being waved and anti-Musharraf slogans filling the air.
Many held banners, some with slogans such as "Down with Musharraf" and "Musharraf, killer of justice", the Associated Press reported.
One Supreme Court lawyer, Muhammad Ikram Chaudhry (no relation), told the BBC the protests were a struggle for democracy.
"We feel it is time for us all to see that the army dictatorship is finally done away with. We are out for the independence of the judiciary and the rights of the people of Pakistan.
"This struggle is basically for a constitutional rule and democracy in Pakistan."
The protests are the latest in a series of public displays of anger over Gen Musharraf's handling of the crisis.
A string of lawyers and senior judges have resigned since the decision to suspend Mr Chaudhry.
There have also been bloody clashes between lawyers and police.
Gen Musharraf insists he acted according to the constitution - a view disputed by many legal experts.