Friday, May 16, 2008, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1429    

Iftikhar’s restoration must for judiciary: Aitzaz

Staff Reporter

Lahore—Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan has said that independence of judiciary is not possible without reinstatement of chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
Addressing a news conference here on Thursday, Aitzaz said lawyers will decide if he should contest the by-elections to be held on June 26, 2008. He vowed to stick with the lawyers movement even after he gets elected as an MNA.
Aitzaz said the All Pakistan Representatives Lawyers Conference which is scheduled to take place on May 17, will take the decision of his participation in the by-polls.
He said that the American bar councils and civil society organizations support the lawyers’ movement but the Bush administration did not.
Aitzaz said the deposed judges may participate in the rallies, as they can address the bar council meetings as speakers, but they will not speak to the media.