The present document of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) concerns a press release in which the ICJ expresses its serious concerns about the unconstitutional suspension of the Chief Justice by the Government of Pakistan. The ICJ calls on the Government to act urgently to demonstrate its commitment to the independence of judges and lawyers by releasing the Chief Justice from effective house arrest, according him full rights to defend himself in any truly independent and transparent investigation into allegations against him, and by allowing lawyers to protest peacefully. The ICJ refers to the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers with regard to the right of lawyers, like other citizens, to freedom of expression, association and assembly.