ISLAMABAD, Pakistan- On Monday, police fired tear gas on a group of about 200 lawyers and other demonstrators who were protesting outside of the home of ousted Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.  The incident was broadcast across the country by news stations, and demonstrators were seen coughing and bending over when hit with the gas.  Some threw the tear gas cannisters back at the police officers.

The demonstrators were demanding that the Chief Justice be reinstated by President Pervez Musharraf, and were shouting various slogans, such as: “Free the children!” and “Go Musharraf Go!”

Chaudry and his family have been under house arrest since November 3, when Musharraf declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution (see Impunity Watch articles here and here).  The group started to gather in front of Chaudry’s home when they heard reports that his house arrest was coming to an end.  The protests began when they found out that the reports were untrue.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo! News – Police tear gas at Pakistani lawyers – 3 March 2008