Defending the Rule of Law in Pakistan

A Public Forum Sponsored by
The American Civil Liberties Union
The DC Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild
The University of the District of Columbia School of Law

Monday, March 3, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.

University of the District of Columbia School of Law
Window Room, Building 38, Second Floor
4200 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
(By Metro to the Van Ness/UDC Station)

In November 2007, President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan issued a "Provisional Constitutional Order" that suspended many fundamental rights and removed more than sixty sitting judges, including the majority of the Supreme Court, shortly before the Court was to rule on his eligibility for re-election under the Pakistan Constitution. In response, thousands of Pakistanis took the streets, led by lawyers demanding reinstatement of the judiciary and restoration of the Constitution. Many were arrested, detained and beaten. Several judges and leaders of the lawyers' movement for democracy remain under house arrest months later.

Three leaders of the Pakistan bar who were involved in these events will be in Washington on March 3: Hamid Khan is a former President of the Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association who argued the case against President Musharaff that precipitated the November emergency declaration. Muneer A. Malik was President of the Supreme Court Bar Association when the Chief Justice was removed from office. He was a leader of the opposition to that action, for which he was imprisoned; he is still undergoing medical treatment for injuries sustained while imprisoned. Sahibzada Anwar Hamid was Vice President of the Supreme Court Bar Association when Musharraf declared emergency rule. He was arrested and detained for fifteen days.

Hear their first-hand accounts of the Pakistani government’s attack on the rule of law in Pakistan.

To RSVP or for further information contact jlibertelli udc.edu. Refreshments will be served.