Contrary to government's hope, the anger against the removal of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is gaining momentum with each passing day.

Crowds of lawyers, political workers and civil society activists, protesting publicly over the blatant assault on judiciary, continue to swell.

On Friday, the protesters staged their biggest demonstration outside the Supreme Court building on the Constitution Avenue in Islamabad ever since the eruption of the crisis about five weeks ago.

What is more elating for Musharraf's detractors is that the protest contagion has caught even the smallest and remotest towns across the country. The intensity of anti-government outbursts has grown but remained peaceful in the absence of provocation by the police. For the first time, crowds burnt effigies of Gen. Musharraf and torched tyres besides shouting usual slogans.

According to analysts, while a gruelling battle is on for independence of the judiciary inside the court, outside on the streets the movement led by the legal fraternity and joined by politicians and other segments of the society, is steadily transforming itself into a trial of the system put in place by Gen. Musharraf during the past seven years.

The public anger has also taken a dangerous turn to aim at the institution of the army itself that must cause greater anxiety to Musharraf, for it has the ominous potential of compelling the army to save itself even if it means sacrificing the chief. Last week, seven army personnel were court-martialled for criticising the handling of the judicial crisis by the presidency.

Inside the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), the defence team has turned the trial of the Chief Justice into that of judges themselves. CJ's lead counsel Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan questioned the presence of three of the five judges on the council, citing conflict of interest, personal bias and allegations of corruption.

Javed Iqbal who was installed as acting chief justice just while Iftikhar was going through the reference documents in the Army House, would be the direct beneficiary if Iftikhar is found guilty.

The CJ has demanded open trial. The government has opposed it because it would put President Musharraf in the dock as well. But the CJ has received strong support from unexpected quarters, senior adviser Sharifuddin Pirzada. He cited many international conventions to endorse the view that if the judge being impeached insists on open proceedings, his request should be granted.

Islamabad, April 15
Pakistan today said Rahul Gandhi’s remarks proved India interfered in its internal affairs and tried to “destabilise” it.

He had claimed the “division” of the country in 1971 as an achievement of his family.

Reacting to Rahul’s remarks made while campaiging for the UP elections, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said this proves allegations that “India interfered in Pakistan’s affairs and tried to destabilise it. This is a clear admission of it,” she told Geo TV, arguing that the Gandhi family ruled India for long.

Asked whether Pakistan would take up the issue with India, she said: “This is not new. Everyone knows what happened in 1971.”

She also said that the difference between Pakistan’s defence capability in 1971 and at present is like “earth and sky”.

During a public meeting in UP, Rahul had said: “You know, when our (Gandhi) family commits to a task it also completes it. In the past too, members of the Gandhi family have achieved the goals they have initiated like the freedom of the country, dividing Pakistan into two and leading the nation to the 21st century.” — PTI

London, April 15
Prince Charles encouraged Prince William to reach a “make or break” decision on marrying Kate Middleton.

The revelation came hours after it was confirmed that Prince William, 24, and Miss Middleton, 25, had “mutually” agreed to separate after four years, The Sunday Telegraph reported quoting sources close to the royal family.

Prince Charles is understood to have been concerned that it was unfair on Miss Middleton - who has been constantly bounded by the paparazzi at her central London home - for his elder son to prolong the relationship indefinitely without marrying her.

Unlike Prince William, the second in line to the British throne, she does not live in heavily guarded private palaces or have a personal bodyguard.

“William was recently advised by his father to think about making up his mind one way or the other,” said one source.

“Prince Charles has suggested him that it would not be fair to keep Kate hanging on if he was not prepared to marry her sooner rather than later”.

“This is history repeating itself as Prince Philip told Charles during his courtship of Diana that he had to make his intentions known fairly swiftly, which ultimately led to disastrous consequences as he was not ready to marry.”

Prince William, who is a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry, and Miss Middleton, a buyer for a fashion company, agreed to part last week after meeting to discuss their strained relationship. — PTI