[JURIST] Pakistani police clashed with protesting lawyers outside the home of former Pakistani Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry [JURIST news archive] Monday, as the country's Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) announced plans to hold new demonstrations to pressure President Pervez Musharraf to reinstatement former Supreme Court justices who were ousted [JURIST report] after Musharraf declared emergency rule in November 2007. The protesters had gathered outside Chaudhry's home after media reports indicated that Musharraf had lifted Chaudhry's house arrest [JURIST report]; the scuffle began when it became apparent that the reports were not correct. SBCA President Aitzaz Ahsan [PILDAT profile] said that lawyers will begin a new week of protests [AP report] on March 9, exactly one year after Musharraf first suspended [JURIST report] Chaudhry. Chaudhry was later reinstated before being ousted in November. AP has more.

Last Tuesday, the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League [party websites] vowed to establish a fully independent judiciary [JURIST report]. The two parties, which will form Pakistan's new coalition government, also agreed to work together [JURIST report] toward the reinstatement of Chaudhry and other ousted Supreme Court justices.