March 15, 2007	Thursday	Safar 25, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, March 14: The multi-party conference called by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) in London on March 24 and 25, is likely to be delayed due to the prevailing uncertain situation after the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday that the party had started consultations with opposition parties to discuss possibilities of changing the date of the MPC.

He said that some lawyers had contacted the party with a request to delay the MPC as presence of some opposition leaders was necessary in the country during the present crisis.

Talking to Dawn from Saudi Arabia, PML-N information secretary Ahsan Iqbal confirmed that the party had started consultations with opposition parties for discussing the option of delaying the MPC.

However, he said, the decision would only be taken with the consent of all opposition parties.

Chaudhary Nisar criticised the PPP leadership for not joining the opposition parties and the lawyers’ community in their protest against “illegal and unconstitutional decision” of General Musharraf to remove the chief justice.

“I appeal to Benazir Bhutto (PPP chairperson) to support the struggle of lawyers for independence of the judiciary at a time when the country is passing through a critical phase,” said the PML-N leader.

Chaudhary Nisar paid tributes to lawyers and media persons for playing their role for the supremacy of judiciary.

He lashed out at Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani for threatening the media on the coverage of the judicial crisis.

The PML-N leader condemned police officials for manhandling the chief justice.

He announced that after the end of the military rule, those police officials who had disgraced the chief justice would be tried and taken to task.