Long March 2009 - First Day -

The Lawyer's Long March for restoration of Judiciary in Pakistan found itself a nunder-estimated yet formidable partner in the PML (N) after the disqualification of the Sharif brothers. The elder Sharif, in my opinion, can never become a politician, probably because he is too much of a goof. However, he set out on an allegation-protest reaction that was initially met by many, including me, as just speeches that could never transpire into reality primarily because the PML(N) workers are not famous, and maybe not well-suited, for the kind of street agitation that Nawaz Sharif was demanding of them. But, just when every one was writing them off, they found unexpected help in the Central Government, who panicked at the resilient calls by the lawyers and the leading political party of Punjab and fucked up big time by closing down, well, almost everything. They barricaded and closed the connecting roads between Sindh and Punjab, isolated various cities. Tried to close down roads in Lahore, the route of the long march to Rawalpindi. Blocked out every main road in Rawalpindi/Islamabad and somehow pumped blood into the movement by going on and trying to arrest its leaders.

Final, it was 15th March, the day the long marchers were going to leave Lahore for Islamabad, and just when it was needed, the inexplicable happened. Some protesters impossibly made it to the Lahore High Court to join those who were already locked inside the building the night before and had broken the locks to come out and together these managed to keep a wildly aggressive police force at bay in one of the most heroic displays of the Lawyer's movement since its inception two years ago. The numbers soon multiplied and GPO chowk, Lahore, became the focal point for a massive struggle between the long marchers and the police. The protestors braved a ferocious onslaught of tear gas and hurled stones at the police. They would retreat and regroup to tease the law-enforcers. Meanwhile, at half past noon, Nawaz Sharif came out all guns blazing, stormed out of his house in Model Town and his caravan, flanked with a couple hundred supporters, literally ran over the extensive blockades placed around his house and the block and went storming through Kalma Chowk en route to GPO chowk. This I think was the turning point of the day. Thousands of political workers, regardless of their party affiliations, joined this ever-growing caravan along the way and the police, meekly, gave way. Aitezaz Ahsan, the charismatic leader of the Lawyer's movement, broke house arrest to rendezvouz at the Lahore High Court. By the time this is being written, Nawaz Sharif and the long march had left Lahore, for the GT road to head for Rawalpindi. News is coming in that in the wee hours of 16th March when a showdown is expected in Rawalpindi, the Chief justice might be restored and the barricades lifted.

Undeniably, 15th March 2009, belonged to the people of Lahore. It was their day, and while Nawaz Sharif was finally able to grow a pair of balls there, here in my hometown, Rawalpindi, things were almost dead. All main entry and exit points were sealed and bloceked with huge containers and movement was restricted to Islamabad as well. There were a few incidents during the day, though. Most notably, Shahbaz Sharif sneaked in to Rawalpindi last night and escaped arrest during the day as well. Javed Hashmi was arrested after addressing the Islamabad High Court bar association, Imran Khan escaped arrest and Hamid Mir reported that hundreds of political workers had taken refuge in the Margalla Hills!

There might be no Second day of this long march but in any case, here's some photos of Rawalpindi on the first day.

This, above, is a shot of the Ali Nawaz Chowk, on Rawal Road, that was the first route I took to reach Islamabad and this is the first blockade I faced.

Next, Rawal Chowk, again, police and barricades. No way through to Murree Road. And, below, the road to Islamabad was again closed off at the 6th Road crossing!

The Double Road also leads in to Islamabad. Here the blockades had caused people to come on the road and play cricket as there was no traffic. See the blocking containers in the upper left of the photo.

And similraly, all roads leading in and out of the city were sealed off.

It is being rumored that PM Gillani will announce restoration of Chief Justice shortly, thereby probably ending the Long March and putting a successful end to the Lawyer's movement. If not, then, to the streets tomorrow!!