Pakistan: Day Four of the Long March

9:05 p.m. Geo News reports Chief Justice Chaudhry to be restored to his position in an address by Prime Minister Gillani at 2 a.m. local time.

Gillani is currently meeting President Zardari and General Ashfaq Parvez Kiani, the head of Pakistan's military, at the President's residence.

8:30 p.m. Rumours continue to fly: Gillani talking to Zardari by phone, Pakistan Muslim (N) leadership of Shahbaz Sharif to be restored in Punjab province, Saad Hamid to be declared new Chief Justice.

7:45 p.m. The Internet chatter is that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani will soon be addressing the nation on television, possibly to announce the restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

3:45 p.m. GMT: Showdown? Nazar Sharif's convoy is nearing Minar-e-Pakistan, the minaret in Lahore's Iqbal Park, where he may address the crowd. Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said Long March participants will be stopped by force.2:05 p.m. GMT: No recent updates on #LongMarch #Pakistan via Twitter. Has Government successfully cut communications?

1:30 p.m. GMT: Dawn News is reporting that the Deputy Attorney General in Lahore, Abdul Hayee Gillani, has resigned in protest against police suppression of the protests. Meanwhile, large police contingents have arrived at the Islamabad airport.

12:30 p.m. GMT: Nawaz Sharif has defied house arrest with a convoy attempting to reach the centre of Lahore. Police have blocked the convoy and have been baton-charging protestors and firing tear gas. The latest report is that Sharif has finally reached the centre to lead the Long March.

Aitzaz Ahsan, one of the leaders of the lawyers' movement, has reached the Lahore High Court. Earlier it was reported that Ahsan was under house arrest.  However, Bar Association President Ahmed Ali Kurd has been blocked again by Pakistani authorties, refused admission onto a flight in Quetta.

Morning update (7:30 a.m. GMT): The Government has launched a bold but possibly pre-emptive strike, as
marchers try to reach both Lahore and Islamabad, with the house arrest of Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. Sharif has been ordered to remain in his house for three days.

The effect of the news and of rumours of the arrest of Aitzaz Ahsan, a leader of the lawyers' movement, is uncertain at this point. Roadblocks are being set up in Islamabad and Lahore, and the army has been requistioned to stop marchers.

Comments

[Bilal Sarwari]

It may be favorite game of political leaders to make fun of law, Some don’t know the rules regulations and still and they are member of assembly, Pakistan have very good historical background, but about today law can be change next day 

I really respect Shahbaz Sharif efforts, and I appreciate his work in Pakistan in last year, its not my own comments, Shahbaz Sharif work very hard in last year, and people feel its true feelings regarding nation, now he is under one political game, I hope that he will come back to serve Pakistan

[Shabana]

Pakistan is going through testing time now. We hope to come out stronger and feel people can no longer be taken for granted. What we need is, Rule of Law across board and not the selective usage of law to victimize ones political, social opponents.