Judge supporters arrested in Pakistan

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LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Police in Pakistan have arrested more than 1,000 protesters demonstrating against the dismissal of the country's top judge earlier this month.

Home Ministry sources told CNN the arrests were made Sunday night into Monday.

Opposition parties have launched a "Save the Judiciary" movement in support of lawyers, who have been boycotting the courts in response to Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's removal.

On March 9, President Pervez Musharraf suspended Chaudhry, accusing him of misusing his powers.

Chaudhry was subsequently placed under house arrest -- outraging many Pakistanis, in addition to the country's attorneys.

At least 14 superior and civil court judges have resigned over the matter. Last week, one of Pakistan's deputy attorney generals, Nasir Saeed Sheikh, also stepped down in protest.

Chaudhry was appointed to the court by Musharraf in 2005, but recently started exercising independence from the government in a number of cases involving the disappearance of terror suspects and human rights activists.

The next court hearing regarding the charges against Chaudhry is scheduled for April 3.

On that day, Pakistan's Supreme Court bar association and opposition parties have announced they will continue their protests across the country.

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