April 18, 2002	Thursday	Safar 4, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, April 17: The issue which Pirzada will assist whom while defending the holding of referendum by President Gen Pervez Musharraf was sorted out on Wednesday when it was decided that Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada and Abdul Hafeez Pirzada would lead their independent defence teams and would not “assist” each other.

The issue cropped up when Abdul Hafeez Pirzada had objected to a law ministry’s letter in which it was stated that Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada would lead the defence team.

At a meeting, held at the attorney-general office on Wednesday, it was decided that Sharifuddin Pirzada would represent the federal government in Qazi Hussain Ahmad’s petition in which the assumption of the office of president by the Gen Musharraf by removing the elected president was challenged.

Abdul Hafeez Pirzada told Dawn that he would represent the federation in a petition, filed by the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, and Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada would represent the same client in the Qazi Hussain Ahmad petition.

He said he would have an independent team of his own and there was no question of assisting anybody.

Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gillani has also chipped in and would record his presence by appearing for the federation in any other petition, as there are five petitions to be taken up on Monday.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad would be represented by Barrister Dr Farooq Hasan. The Supreme Court Bar Association would be represented by its president, Hamid Khan. Shahid Orakzai, who wanted postponement of the referendum to save money, would appear in person.

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