Pakistan Police Held Accountable in Violence Against Protestors

The PCR Project has argued for the past year, in our A Perilous Course report, that the Chief Justices of the five Supreme Courts (national and four provinces) are among the key figures in restoring a rule of law culture in Pakistan, partially because of their ability to oversee the police. Few people that the PCR Project spoke with during a visit to Pakistan expressed any confidence in the current police force – a prerequisite for peaceful progress. Several stories over the weekend described the various responses to the ruling regarding President Musharraf’s bid to seek reelection, including the beatings of lawyers by the police. Yesterday, Chief Justice Chaudhry of the Supreme Court ordered the suspension of three senior police officials, including Islamabad’s police chief.