Thousands of US lawyers demand rule of law in Pakistan

More than 10,000 American lawyers have signed a petition, with more expected to join them, urging President Pervez Musharraf to restore the Constitution, reinstate Supreme Court justices and free those lawyers and civil leaders who have been wrongly jailed.

Washington, Dec 7 : More than 10,000 American lawyers have signed a petition, with more expected to join them, urging President Pervez Musharraf to "restore the Constitution, reinstate Supreme Court justices and free those lawyers and civil leaders who have been wrongly jailed."

The petition prepared by the American Bar Association (ABA), will be presented to the Pakistan Embassy on December 13 by ABA President William H Neukom.

Neukom said "each day, pressure brought by Americans and people of other nations is forcing Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf to soften his assault on the rule of law. But he has failed to address some of his most destructive actions."

With more than 413,000 members, the ABA is believed to be the largest voluntary professional membership organisation in the world, the Daily Times reported.

As the national voice of the legal profession, the association works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programmes to assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

ANI