Lahore, May 6
Attacking the military regime led by President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s suspended Chief Justice Iftikar Ahmed Chaudhry today declared that the "era of dictatorship is over" in front of thousands of cheering supporters here after a massive show of support by the people.

Tens of thousands of people, who had waited overnight at different places along the 300-km route from Islamabad, greeted Chaudhry's convoy of several hundred vehicles, which took over 24 hours to cover the distance after the top judge decided to travel by road ignoring the government's warning of possible suicide attacks against him.

"The autocratic system of government and grabbing of power by a single person has now ended. All these are bitter lessons of history," Chaudhry told a Continued from page 1 col 1

convention of thousands of lawyers and judges at Lahore that passed a resolution asking the army to relinquish power and return to the barracks.

"Nations that do not learn from history and repeat mistakes have to faces its consequences," he said amid chants of "Go Musharraf Go".

Chaudhry, who was suspended by Musharraf on March 9 on charges that he abused his authority, told the crowd that the "era of dictatorship is over".

He called for the supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law and fundamental human rights in the country. "It is the responsibility of the courts to defend human rights of the people and protect the Constitution." Seen as a sign of his growing public stature, 16 serving Lahore High Court judges attended his meeting despite fears of a government backlash.

The resolution, which had strong political overtones, also demanded that the government repeal the reference of allegations against Chaudhry and asked for his reinstatement as Chief Justice.

It also called for total independence for judiciary, restoration of unchanged Constitution of 1973, permission for former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to return and formation of an independent election commission to conduct general elections due this year.

As Chaudhry’s convoy of several hundreds vehicles rolled into the town at around sunrise after a journey that would have ordinarily taken just four hours, he was accorded a rousing public reception by thousands of lawyers and opposition political party activists at the open stadium here.