Updated on Wednesday, March 14, 2007, 00:00 IST

Islamabad, March 14: President Pervez Musharraf's decision to fire Pakistan's Chief Justice has played into the hands of his opponents, who are now more unified than ever, analysts say.

Musharraf suspended Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Friday alleging abuse of power. Observes suggest the military ruler's real motive was to weaken the judiciary ahead of a controversial plan to get re-elected in uniform.

Chaudhry appeared before a judicial panel at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad yesterday amid scuffles between lawyers and police.

"This is first shot across Musharraf's bows and the unrest caused by the sacking of the Chief Justice suggests the road ahead for Musharraf is going to be very difficult," political analyst Najam Sethi told a news agency.

Musharraf has never been afraid to deal with the courts. In 2000 he dismissed 18 judges, including the Chief Justice, for failing to take oaths of office under a provisional constitution issued after his October 1999 coup.

Sethi, however, said Musharraf's move would backfire by harming his image both at home, where he portrays himself as the cure for corruption and instability, and also internationally as a key US ally.

As opposition parties called for a nationwide strike on Friday, political writer Mohammad Afzal Niazi said they should strike now while Musharraf is weak.

"The political opposition would want to turn it into a mass movement. This is as good an opportunity as there can be," Niazi said.

"The current crisis brings together a much broader coalition of forces then has ever come up before on any single issue against Musharraf," he said.

Bureau Report