[NYTr] 2 Rallies in Solidarity with Lawyers in Pakistan 11/13-14 NYC

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[sorry these are a mess, -- they're even a mess in HTML, and no URLs to
the press releases. God [sic] knows who composes this stuff, but we're
sending them as received due to short notice. We have separated the two
and corrected typos in the originals that even had the wrong dates. SIGH
Both rallies are at the Pakistani Mission to the UN. -NY Transfer]


sent by Andy Pollack

[These are called by CCR, NLG and other good groups. Spread the word.
Andy]

2 Rallies in Solidarity with Lawyers in Pakistan 11/13-14 NYC

The first is Tuesday at 1 at the Pakistan mission,
called by the National Lawyers Guild and CCR. The
Second is at noon on Wed., same location, called by
the South Asian Law Students Assn.

CALL FOR DEMONSTRATIONS IN SOLIDARITY WITH LAWYERS IN PAKISTAN
*New York City  Nov 13 and 14, 2007

Tuesday, November 13th - 1:00 pm
PAKISTANI MISSION to the UN
8 East 65th Street (bet. 5th & Madison)
New York City

The National Lawyers Guild, NYC-NLG Chapter, Center
for 
Constitutional Rights, SALT, Alliance for Justice,
ABA, 
(list in formation) have called for demonstrations at 
Pakistani Consulates in New York City, Washington,
D.C., 
Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles & Boston in
solidarity 
with Lawyers in Pakistan on Tuesday, November 13th at 
1:00pm. Court attire requested.

Please join with other Lawyers, Law Students & Legal 
Workers on Tuesday, November 13 to demand the
immediate 
release of all those detained after the declaration of
a 
"state of emergency"; the immediate reinstatement of
the 
Supreme Court and Provincial High Courts; the
immediate 
revocation of Provisional Constitution Order #1 of
2007; 
and the scheduling of fair and free general elections 
monitored by international observers.

Susan Howard
NYC Chapter Coordinator
National Lawyers Guild
212-679-6018

NLG Press Release:

The National Lawyers Guild strongly condemns the State
of 
Emergency imposed on the people of Pakistan and the 
attacks on lawyers and the judiciary. The NLG demands 
that President Musharraf immediately withdraw the 
emergency declaration of November 3, 2007, the
Provisional 
Constitutional Order No. 1 of 2007 (PCO), which
suspends 
Pakistan's Constitution. This declaration includes 
suspension of the right to life and liberty, freedom
of 
speech, assembly and association, and equal protection
of 
the law, all of which are guaranteed by the
International 
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Pakistani Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry is 
being held under house arrest, and over 2500 lawyers
in 
different parts of Pakistan including the President of
the 
Supreme Court Bar Association and other leaders of the
Bar 
including officials of the Democratic Lawyers
Association 
of Pakistan, have been detained. Journalists said the 
government ordered that journalists who brought
"ridicule 
or disrepute" to Musharraf could face three years in 
prison.

The real motivation for the PCO is not to defend the 
country against "Islamic extremists" but to maintain 
Musharraf in power. The State of Emergency was
declared 
after the Supreme Court indicated it would overturn
the 
results of the illegitimate election that preserved 
Musharraf's rule. Musharraf seeks to prevent public 
protests that lawyers and political parties were 
organizing.

The lawyers and the judiciary are resisting efforts by

Musharraf to violate Pakistan's Constitution and to 
interfere with the judiciary. The NLG salutes the
lawyers 
of Pakistan for their principled stand in upholding
the 
Constitution, independence of the judiciary, and the
rule 
of law. The NLG supports the call by the lawyers of 
Pakistan to refuse to practice before judges who have 
agreed to take oath under the PCO. The PCO has been
held 
to be unconstitutional and illegal by a 7-judge bench
of 
the Pakistan Supreme Court. Chief Justice Chaudhry and

other judges of the Supreme Court and of the High
Courts 
who have refused to take oath under the illegal PCO 
continue to hold office and cannot be removed.

The NLG demands the immediate release of the lawyers
and 
others from custody and/or house arrest and withdrawal
of 
all restrictions illegally imposed. The NLG further
urges 
President Bush to discontinue all aid to Pakistan
until 
the state of emergency is lifted, the Constitution is
no 
longer suspended, and Musharraf provides assurance
that 
the January 2008 elections will proceed as planned.

Founded in 1937 as an alternative to the American Bar 
Association, which did not admit people of color, the 
National Lawyers Guild is the oldest and largest
public 
interest/human rights bar organization in the United 
States. Its headquarters are in New York and it has 
chapters in every state.

# # #
------------------------------------------------------------

Protest Musharraf's Emergency Rule with student
groups, Wed, Nov 14th @
 Noon!!!

Please come join our student protest outside the
Consulate General of 
Pakistan (NY) this Wednesday, November 14, 2007, at 12
pm sharp. We 
think it`s imperative to protest the gross violations
of human rights 
that have escalated over the past weeks, and continue
protesting, 
until there is a restoration of democracy.  Let`s show
solidarity 
with the students, lawyers and citizens of Pakistan.

Who we are:  South Asian Law Student Association, CUNY
School of Law

Contact:  Maryam Arif: maryam.arif@ mail.law.cu ny.edu
              Beena Ahmad:  beena.ahmad @mail.l
aw.cuny.edu

When:   Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Time:    12 pm
Where:  Consulate General of Pakistan, NY
         	  12 E. 65th Street (between Madison & 5th
Ave)
	  [N, R, W to 5th Ave. (at 59th); F to Lexington (at
63rd);
	  #6 to 68th St (at Lex); 4, 5 to 59th St. (at
Lexington).  --t. ]

Bring placards, banners and posters, strongly
denouncing Musharraf`s
`Emergency` in Pakistan.  Spread the word - bring your
friends and
 family!

                     Justice for the Judiciary
                     Free speech for the Media
                     Human Rights for All