Once again the Rule of Law has been abrogated in Pakistan. General Musharraf, in a brazen attempt to perpetuate his own rule, has used his state apparatus to disband the highest courts in the country. Thousands of lawyers, journalists, judges, and human rights activists have been jailed.

SALT co-presidents Eileen Kaufman and Tayyab Mahmud issued a statement on November 6, 2007 condemning Musharraf, and calling for him to:

• immediately revoke Provisional Constitution Order #1 of 2007;
• immediately release from detention and house arrest all those detained after the declaration of a "state of emergency";
• immediately reinstate the Supreme Court and Provincial Highs Courts;
• hold fair and free general elections monitored by international observers.

For a copy of the full statement, click here.

On Tuesday, November 13th, across the country, SALT, the National Lawyers Guild, and local activists and bar associations demonstrated at Pakistani consultates and missions as well as at courthouses. Here is the New York Law Journal's November 14, 2008 account of the New York City demonstrations, including an account of SALT co-president Eileen Kaufman's meeting with Consul General Mohsin Razi.

On the west coast, in Seattle SALT's other co-president, Tayyab Mahmud spoke at a rally in front of that city's mission.

SALT honored those Pakistani judges who refused to take the oath of allegiance, jeopardizing their liberty, their careers, and in some cases, their lives, to uphold justice with the "Rule of Law" award at its annual dinner on January 5, 2008.

c.Michel Angela Martinez, National Lawyers Guild