LAHORE, April 28: Advocate Supreme Court Naeem Bokhari in his reply to a legal notice on Saturday denied the allegation that the current judicial crisis erupted in the wake of his open letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Advocate Rana Ejaz, through a notice, had asked Mr Bokhari to tender an unconditional apology through the print and electronic media or pay Rs500 million as a compensation for the loss which was allegedly caused by him, through his letter, to the judiciary and the mental torture suffered by the sender of the notice.

In his reply, Mr Bokhari said while addressing Mr Rana: “I hope your commission will ponder over the fact that the judicial crisis has not erupted in the wake of my open letter to the CJP dated Feb 16, 2007.” He further said that from Feb 17 to March 9 there was no crisis, judicial or otherwise.

Mr Bokhari said he had launched no media campaign on the basis of his open letter except for one interview to a private television channel, and that too after the filing of the reference against the CJP. “I have constantly declined to comment on an issue that is sub judice,” he said

Addressing Mr Ijaz, he said: “I am surprised that you have taken upon yourself the burden of everyone in the legal fraternity to affirm categorically that my profession relates to showbiz instead of advocacy.

“When we last met in passing, at a five star hotel in Lahore, you were exchanging farewells with the Chief Minister Punjab. Aren’t you an Advisor to the Government of Punjab? I only ask, as that position is not reflected under your signature”, Naeem Bokhari concluded his reply. —Staff Reporter