9th March Lawyers Movement

After the establishment of private channels in 2002 things started to change as live reporting came into action. The first chance of live telecasting was the earth quake 8th October 2005 that hit the northern parts of Pakistan killing over 73,000 people, more than 150,000 were injured and 2.5 million were left homeless. The impact of live telecasting was well realized as this broadcasting sent shock ways through the nation and masses put together money to rehabilitate the victims.

The second live coverage was the first of its kind as an agitation was broadcasted live from the 9th of March ‘07 to the 20th of July 2007. The agitation was in regard to the freedom of judiciary to restore respect of the Chief Justice. The agitation started on the 9th of March when the Chief Justice was asked to leave his seat, this continued till the 12th of May when the horrific images brought great support to the agitation. On the 12th of May 2007 Karachi witnessed violence claiming over 40 lives. And finally on the 20th of July 2007 the Chief Justice was restored to his seat.

Other broadcast like the Lal mosque in July, the return of the Ex-Priminister Nawas Sharif on the 10th 0f September, the return of the former Priminister Banazir in Karachi on the 18th October , the bomb blast on the very same day claiming lives of over a 160 people and injuring 600 people.

After all these event took place and the adding fuel to fire role played by the media an emergence was launched on the 3rd of November 2007 all news channels were banned. A few days into the emergence restrictions were imposed on live reporting, live broadcasting and the laws of Pamra were emended to restrict live telecasting and live discussion programs related to political issues.

9th March to 12th May

Mr. Chaudhry was appointed by President Pervaiz Musharaff as Chief Justices on the 30th of June 2005 he made a speech talking about the crisis of confidence that had developed in the public in regard to the judiciary. President Pervaiz Musharaff suspended the Chief Justice (CJ) Chaudhry Muhammad Iftikhar on the 9th March 2007 for “misuse of authority” the details of which were not specified at that time. Lawyers began to boycott the court cases to support the CJ, which lasted for several days. Mr. Chaudhry appeared before a closed hearing of senior judges to answer to the allegations against him of the 13th of March 2007. Violence broke out at the Islamabad rally in support of the on the 16th of March. After a few days the CJ made the first public speech stating “Pakistan needs an independent judiciary and respect for the role of law”. On the 3rd of April 2007 the CJ appeared before a private hearing of the Supreme Court, he called for the closed hearing to be made public.

Then CJ launched a challenge after hearing the allegations against him. The CJ appeared at a rally in Lahore. Hundreds of supporters were detained by the police. Then came the horrific day of 12th May that led the nation into a state of shock and them for the first time saw what was happening of the ground.