New Delhi: The Pakistan government is cracking down on protestors ahead of the Supreme Judicial Council's verdict on the sacking of Chief Justice Iftikar Choudhary.
Police has arrested over 100 Opposition leaders in midnight raids across Islamabad including several hardliner MPs. Another 50 activists have been detained in Lahore.
Demonstrations have been banned in Islamabad and security has been tightened.
The media is also under pressure to censor shows. State-controlled Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority on Thursday stopped private television channel, Geo TV from telecasting a show on the judiciary.
Iftikar Choudhury's hearing on Friday will be conducted under the shadow of guns in Islamabad as security has been beefed up.
Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf had earlier promised to abide by the verdict of the judicial panel looking into the chief justice's suspension.
"The case is subjudice and the court is going to give its verdict. I do not have any right to interfere. Whatever the verdict will be, I will accept it," General Musharraf had said in an interview on GEO TV.
However, others have criticised the manner in which the inquiry is being conducted.
"Why will the judiciary function in secret? It should be open to public. The people of Pakistan have the right to know the truth and the media of Pakistan has all the right to cover events of national importance," Pakistan People's Party leader Abdul Amin Fahim had said.
Meanwhile, the US has expressed "deep concern" over the incidents relating to the suspension and has said that investigations into the matter should be conducted in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with the laws of the land.
"It's a situation that we have been monitoring very closely for some time. We are watching it closely. It is a matter of deep concern. We believe that the resolution of this matter should take place in a way that is completely transparent and strictly in accordance with Pakistan's laws," State department Spokesman Sean McCormack was quoted by news agency PTI as saying on Thursday.
"It's essential for any developing democracy to adhere to the rule of law and conduct any investigations, any proceedings, that may follow on from those investigations in a clear, above-board, transparent manner that strictly accords with Pakistan's laws. We're early on in this, and we're going to be watching it very closely," he was further quoted as saying.
In the meantime, even as the agitation snowballs, there is speculation over the whereabouts of Justice Bhagwan Dass, the senior-most judge in the Pakistan Supreme Court, who could succeed Justice Choudhury. Sources say that Justice Dass is in India on a private visit.
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