[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 186 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        3,000 LAWYERS GO TO JAIL

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2007

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, on November 3, Pakistani President Pervez 
Musharraf suspended the national constitution, fired appellate judges, 
detained 8 members of the Supreme Court, and arrested hundreds of 
lawyers. In the weeks that followed, nearly 3,000 lawyers were 
arrested. Musharraf's explanation was that martial law was necessary 
because of terrorism threats. This is a poor excuse.
  Musharraf fired or arrested members of the legal community for 
protesting Musharraf's abuse of power and for defending the rule of 
law. These men and women are courageous. They've faced beatings, 
threats, tear gas, and arrests for promoting democracy.
  A nation cannot succeed without impartial application of law. A 
nation cannot succeed when a President suspends a cornerstone of 
government for his own political convenience.
  Although Musharraf eventually released many, he also cracked down on 
the Pakistani press. On November 20, approximately 100 journalists were 
arrested at a protest.
  A nation without courts promotes tyranny. A nation without a free 
press promotes uninformed citizens and unaccountable politicians. The 
rule of law and democracy are indebted to lawyers and judges, who 
ensure that rights are protected and laws are obeyed.
  And that's just the way it is.

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