April 03, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 14, 1428

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

LAHORE, April 2: Pro-government lawyers have reportedly been transported to Islamabad from across the province to show legal fraternity’s support for the rulers and to counter several bar councils and opposition parties’ planned protest rallies in the federal capital where the Supreme Judicial Council will hear a presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on Tuesday (today).

Three buses loaded with lawyers left the Chief Minister’s Secretariat for Islamabad on Monday afternoon.

Lahore District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood, Tourism Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal and Data Gunj Bakhsh Town Nazim Tariq Sana Bajwa are reportedly accompanying the lawyers to look after them during their stay in Islamabad.

Provincial Law Minister Basharat Raja said the buses were carrying the lawyers from Rawalpindi, Jhelum and other towns on GT Road who had been in the town to attend a lawyers’ convention addressed by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Monday.

Mr Amer was to chair a fortnightly progress review meeting of district officials on Monday but he cancelled the meeting so that he could reach Islamabad.

His personal secretary confirmed that Mr Mahmood was in the federal capital due to some “personal” engagements.

CHIEF MINISTER: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said the government expected from lawyers not to allow political parties to use their platform or infiltrate their ranks.

He was addressing lawyers from various districts at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Monday.

He said the government believed in strengthening lawyers’ organisations and provided huge funds to bar councils in tehsils, districts and at provincial level irrespective of their political affiliation.

Provincial Minister for Law and Local Government, Muhammad Basharat Raja was present.

The chief minister said the reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in the Supreme Judicial Council was a constitutional issue and therefore lawyers should keep in view the respect of law and constitution while expressing their point of view.

He said lawyers had played a commendable role in upholding law and provision of justice to the masses. Mr Elahi added the government had provided funds to bar councils for libraries and other facilities. He said the government was also implanting a number of projects for lawyer, including setting up of residential colonies.