On 14th of March, wearing a tie and suit, I sat on a caravan of 7 cars and 1 bus. Myself, being seated in back seats of bus surrounded by some other diehard supporters of free judiciary, the day was full of fun, anger, anguish and moments of elation. 14th of March was supposed to be the day when the huge long march for restoration of free judiciary had to come from Multan to Lahore. Resultantly, thousands of blockades and containers were placed all over punjab to stop movement of the lawyers and civil society. By the media estimates, around 8000 containers were used along with 1500 lorries and trailers. Not only that but each and every policeman in the whole country was on every big and small road to stop any kind of vehicle movement at all.
So in these conditions, we began our long journey to lahore at around 6 pm in evening. Just as the Sahiwal city's limits were crossed, we were put off the GT road by police as it was blocked. Using the bypass, we drove 30 km towards Okara city when at the okara city toll plaza there was a huge blockade and a complete traffic standstill. The trcuk and bus queue extended for more then a kilometre. At this point, we lost 2 of the cars from our convoy as they got through the traffic more easily. 
The remaining convoy drove off the road through thick brush and uneven ground and got on a rail track that was under development. Just as we crossed the toll plaza and tried to get on the road again, suddenly police cars and vans appeared with big lights. The bus was stopped and they got on to check on us. We were advised not to make any signs or raise slogans. Some pleading and love helped the police guys in 
letting us go. As we moved forward, we were contacted by the 2 cars that had gone ahead earlier that there is a huge traffic mess and police blockade at Patoki city. So we stopped on the road at a diversion going to debaalpur city and convened a little meeting among us to figure out which way to go. A NH&MP police car arrived and the police guy was really tired of all this and advised us to go via debaalpur. The only problem he said would be of security as its not a safe area. Even though totally unarmed and unprotected, we decided to head to debaalpur as we were strong in our commitment to reach lahore city by 15th march morning.
So in these conditions, we began our long journey to lahore at around 6 pm in evening. Just as the Sahiwal city's limits were crossed, we were put off the GT road by police as it was blocked. Using the bypass, we drove 30 km towards Okara city when at the okara city toll plaza there was a huge blockade and a complete traffic standstill. The trcuk and bus queue extended for more then a kilometre. At this point, we lost 2 of the cars from our convoy as they got through the traffic more easily. 
The remaining convoy drove off the road through thick brush and uneven ground and got on a rail track that was under development. Just as we crossed the toll plaza and tried to get on the road again, suddenly police cars and vans appeared with big lights. The bus was stopped and they got on to check on us. We were advised not to make any signs or raise slogans. Some pleading and love helped the police guys in 
letting us go. As we moved forward, we were contacted by the 2 cars that had gone ahead earlier that there is a huge traffic mess and police blockade at Patoki city. So we stopped on the road at a diversion going to debaalpur city and convened a little meeting among us to figure out which way to go. A NH&MP police car arrived and the police guy was really tired of all this and advised us to go via debaalpur. The only problem he said would be of security as its not a safe area. Even though totally unarmed and unprotected, we decided to head to debaalpur as we were strong in our commitment to reach lahore city by 15th march morning. It was around 8 pm now, and the next 4 hours were full of blockades and dead-end roads. We
faced so many police people and containers that at points, we felt ourselves pushed to limits. Pleading with them, trying to scare them, raising slogans such as "chief tere janisaar, beshumaar beshumaar" which means 'Chief Justice-your foot soldiers are uncountable'. Mostly our hard work, commitment to reach lahore, loud slogan-raising and presence of an Inspector general of police's brother along with a DCO helped us. One of the funny moments for us was when police diverted us at a town called "CHUNIYAN" and after 2 hours, we ended up twice at the same place. It still is a joke that either the mysterious Chuniyan town is very big or the roads make a complete circle there.On our way, we met a police guy who was so sympathetic with us that he himself wished to join 
us in long march. Most of them were sympathetic to our cause and wished us well. A police guy on Raiwand road opened the blockade only and only for us, and not for normal transport, while at another point, the police picked up the huge stone blocks and barriers for us from the road. One of the defining moment for us was when we were very close to Lahore city at around 1:15 am in the morning. 
It was very dark and silent and we saw hundreds of trucks and buses stuck at a blockade. The police wouldn't budge and the only way to get around was a very narrow road with a sharp turn. Our long bus couldn't get through that turn as there was a big pit on one side so we all got off in our suits and ties with great vigor and ran around to gather bricks and stones. It was such an amazing site to see everyone bringing bricks including myself. In no time, we had filled a major portion of the pit and someone found a huge concrete slab that we placed over it. The bus made its way and the many many dozens of trucks that had been standing there for a whole day now followed us. It was one of the final defining moments in our long trek.
us in long march. Most of them were sympathetic to our cause and wished us well. A police guy on Raiwand road opened the blockade only and only for us, and not for normal transport, while at another point, the police picked up the huge stone blocks and barriers for us from the road. One of the defining moment for us was when we were very close to Lahore city at around 1:15 am in the morning. 
It was very dark and silent and we saw hundreds of trucks and buses stuck at a blockade. The police wouldn't budge and the only way to get around was a very narrow road with a sharp turn. Our long bus couldn't get through that turn as there was a big pit on one side so we all got off in our suits and ties with great vigor and ran around to gather bricks and stones. It was such an amazing site to see everyone bringing bricks including myself. In no time, we had filled a major portion of the pit and someone found a huge concrete slab that we placed over it. The bus made its way and the many many dozens of trucks that had been standing there for a whole day now followed us. It was one of the final defining moments in our long trek.
The rest of the journey to lahore was full of thunderous claping, slogan-raising and victory signs. By 2:30 am at night, we had entered Lahore city and to all our surprise, we had overcome 17 road blockades and many road diversions withing a remarkable 8 hours. It not only practically showed me that 'where there is a will, there is a way' but I also looked forward to the eventful day of 15th of March when the huge march was to head to Islamabad in its final leg of journey. And now as I have written it down, millions watched on TV screens as thousands of people poured on streets of lahore and moved every blockade in the way on self-help basis. The huge 
caravan had not even reached Gujranwala city which in normal circumstances is an hour's drive away from lahore when the Independent Judiciary was restored. The Prime Minister came on TV and announced the decision. The dictator president zardari of pakistan had lost against the people's will and whole country rejoiced and jubiliated. It was a tiring 3 days for me. But the end was such an amazing spectacle that even many of us participants were dumb-founded. For the first time in front of my eyes, the people of Pakistan have shown some awareness. Previously, the people only united after natural calamities struck somewhere or there was a fear of stupid war or there was a cricket match.
However, for firt time, people reached a similar conclusion on a totally different topic. The question of restoration of an unbiased judiciary in Pakistan was one step further in collective awareness of the people of this country. This was not some emotional rhetoric but an analytical decision reached completely by the people. And for first time I guess in history of this country, the military did not directly interfere in a people's movement and the movement did reach its logical conclusion.
A further testamount to the ordinary people's power and for me, once again it has proven that borders and countries do not matter. Its the people who count. Just a few months ago, I was at Grant Park witnessing President Obama make history with power of people and now I saw the people's power at work again about ten thousand miles from Grant Park. I had myself worked hard to push people for this revolutionary long march and you can see a glimpse of those dark and uncertain days here when I wrote, plead and mailed people to join this cause http://somairs.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-judiciary.htmlMay everyone get his right to justice fulfilled everywhere in the world.
