Anonymous [advocate, Lahore High Court, Lahore, Pakistan]: "Mr. Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif was the seniormost Judge of the Lahore High Court on the morning of November 3, i.e. No. 2 after the Chief Justice. Because of the extra-constitutional steps of General (Retired) Musharraf, he is one of those Judges who were unceremoniously and unlawfully removed from their positions under the declaration of emergency rule.

At the request of the present President of the Lahore District Bar Association Mr. Muhammad Shah, His Lordship accepted the invitation to address the Bar today, December 18. The function was scheduled to take place at 10:30 AM, and earlier the President of the LDBA was supposed to go to His Lordship's house in the morning so as to bring His Lordship to the Bar Room in the context of a public rally.

The Provincial Home Department issued 03 Days Detention Order of the deposed Judge last night, however, so the entire residential area (Block S of the Defence Housing Society of Lahore) was cordoned off, and the roads leading to His Lordship's house were sealed with barricades and barbed wires.

This morning, the President of the LDBA Mr. Muhammad Shah, while aware of the detention order, reached His Lordship's residence along with dozens of lawyers but was denied access. After heated discussion with the police officials, the President was allowed to see the deposed Judge. The President presented a bouquet and expressed his good wishes; the Judge because of obvious reasons expressed his incapacity to accompany him to the lawyers' gathering.

The lawyers chanted slogans against General (Retired) Musharraf, the unlawful ruler of Pakistan and came back to the Lahore District Bar Association in order to proceed with the scheduled function. Since the Judge was not present, hence it was not a huge gathering. Nonetheless, not less than 300 lawyers were present.

The Bar was addressed by the President as well as the son of the deposed Judge who informed the Bar Members how roughly the Police entered the house last night for service of the Detention Order and misbehaved with the Judge and his family once improper manners was protested against.

The Judge also addressed the Bar through his Mobile Phone and during the said 20 minutes address, he strongly condemned the detention of Judges, the imposition of Martial Law, the molestation of constitution and the fundamental rights guaranteed therein, the unconstitutional re-election of General (Retired) Musharraf to the post of President of Pakistan, and the sacking of Judges. The Bar had already arranged for a Shield / Memento to be presented to the Judge which then was presented to his son present there.

Once the speeches were over, the President requested the members to gather out on the main road for recording of agitation against the detention of the Judge when his address to the Bar was already scheduled as well as announced. The lawyers took out a sizzling procession to the nearby Post Master General Square which was surrounded by heavy contingents of riot police. The lawyers chanted slogans against the Retired General, recited poems specially developed against his unconstitutional rule and set ablaze the election banners of the ruling clique. After a noisy show of 30 minutes, the lawyers peacefully dispersed at around 12 noon.

Today's events were part of ongoing demonstrations since November 3 against the illegal rule of Musharraf. On one hand, the Retired General claims the constitution is restored, while on the other hand, respectable members of superior judiciary are detained in their houses in such a shabby manner. This is the real face of 'our democracy' and we are fighting our 'war against terror'."