THE announcement by legal activists that they would hold an indefinite sit-in after the long march on March 9 till the reinstatement of all deposed judges, has upped the ante. The decision, that was taken in a National Coordination Council meeting chaired by Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan after consultation with members of the legal community, shows that the lawyers are fully prepared to go to great lengths to have the judges restored. In the words of SCBA President Ali Ahmed Kurd, this would be a historic event where tens of thousands of people from across the country would gather before Parliament on March 9. The statement by Mr Kurd that the legal fraternity would welcome the participation of political parties in the long march and the sit-in to add muscle to the movement, threatens a wider conflagration. Much also depends on how the government would deal with the people heading for Parliament in the federal capital. Any attempt to resort to the use of force would prove counterproductive. Tehrik-i-Istaqlal Chief Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan's view that there is a possibility of a military takeover may be misplaced. But in case of any such eventuality the political leadership would be held responsible for it. The situation demands that different stakeholders - the lawyers' community and political parties - sit together and try to hammer out a negotiated settlement of the issue. The option floated by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, President of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, a few days back to call an APC conference could prove to be effective. An amicable resolution to the satisfaction of all concerned would ensure against any political upheaval.