That once-cozy relationship frayed as the court, led by Chaudhry, gradually began challenging Musharraf on cases ranging from human rights to the validity of his election. Musharraf suspended the Chaudhry in March, accusing him of corruption, but lawyers around the country protested.

Their demonstrations became a rallying point for a broader weariness among Pakistanis after seven-and-a-half years of military rule. The General eventually had to back down, and Chaudhry was reinstated in July. But as the court continued to thwart Musharraf, he cracked down and on Saturday declared a state of Emergency, accusing the court of meddling in the affairs of state and “demoralising” public servants.

In fact, lawyers said in interviews, the court was doing its job, and it was Musharraf who had retreated into the old ways of Pakistan.

Minallah said their expectations of change had been dashed. “All these people are professionals, who have never been out on the streets before,” he said of the roughly 50 people arrested at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, in Lahore, when the police raided the building on Sunday.

In fact, when Musharraf first seized power in a military coup in 1999, unseating Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he was initially welcomed by Pakistanis fed up with years of corrupt and dysfunctional civilian rule. Minallah was among those early supporters.

“Initially Musharraf gave the impression, through speaking of reforms, that he meant business,” Minallah said. “He was going to do something that had never happened before 1999: people from the ruling class would be held accountable for whatever they did.” But he recounted his gradual disenchantment on a range of issues — not only strictly legal issues — after joining the Musharraf Government.

... contd.