Just to clarify, there are at least two protests being organised (2) today and (3) tomorrow regarding Musharraf and the suspension of the constitution in Pakistan. Details follow at (2) and (3) below plus (1) letter in today's mainstream press.

(1) Musharraf's visit
Lawyers call for a restoration of law and order in Pakistan

Sir, President Musharraf is coming to London this weekend at a time when (despite the lifting of the state of emergency) a number of judges and lawyers who protested are still being detained.

They include the former Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, and the president of the Supreme Court Bar, Aitzaz Ahsan. Former Justice (retired) Rana Bhagwandas was also put under house arrest earlier this month.

Lawyers from around the world have called on the Pakistan authorities to provide effective constitutional protections, lift all restrictions on the judiciary, release the lawyers and judges arbitrarily detained, and allow lawyers to exercise their freedom of expression and assembly.

We wish to stress that Pakistan must re-establish and comply with internationally recognised standards for the rule of law; the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession must be respected in the interests of justice and economic development; the Pakistan Government should cease arresting, detaining and harassing judges and lawyers arbitrarily, and should release those currently detained; fundamental freedoms (eg, of expression and assembly) should be afforded to all citizens, including lawyers and the judiciary.

Andrew Holroyd
President, Law Society of England and Wales
Timothy Dutton, QC
Chairman, Bar Council of England and Wales
Mark Muller, QC
Chair, Bar Human Rights Committee
Michael Ellaman
Chair, Solicitors' International Human Rights Group
Shams Rahman
Society of Asian Lawyers
Roger Smith
Director, Justice
Jonathan Cooper
Chair, Human Rights Lawyers Association
Ifath Nawaz
Chair, Association of Muslim Lawyers
Shami Chakrabarti
Director, Liberty
 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article3247259.ece

(2) There will be a British Lawyers protest against President Musharraf of Pakistan today Friday 25 January [ 5.30pm at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane] over his decision to remove the independent judiciary and suspend the constitution.

Your presence and support will be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Mumin Hashim,
Barrister,
Chambers of Mr Kadri Q.C.
6 King's Bench Walk,
Temple,
London EC4Y 7DR

Tel: 020 7583 0695
Fax: 020 7353 1726
Mob: 0787 506 0595

(3) SOLICITORS’ INTERNATIONAL
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP

Uniting Lawyers for Human Rights around the World
Protest!

UK Lawyers will be demonstrating against the visit of the President of Pakistan at a time when the Chief Justice and several of the High Court Judges and hundreds of lawyers are detained or under house arrest.

Join them on

Saturday 26th January 2008
Opposite

The Gates of Downing Street, Whitehall

From 12pm to 2pm

This and other protests are supported by the Bar Human Rights Committee, the Society of Asian Lawyers, the Law Society and the Bar Council.

Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales

Naoimh Hughes
Project Coordinator
Bar Human Rights Committee

Garden Court Chambers
57-60 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London WC2A 3LS
tel: 44 (0) 20 7993 7755
fax: 44 (0) 20 7993 7700
www.barhumanrights.org.uk