June 15, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 29, 1428

FAISALABAD, June 14: All the town administrations have been directed to close roads leading to the venue of the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s reception planned for Saturday (tomorrow).

Sources told this correspondent on Thursday that long vehicles and trucks would be parked on roads to stop people from reaching the district bar premises to welcome the CJP.

The CJP is scheduled to address a lawyers’ convention on the invitation of the District Bar Association, Faisalabad. The DBA has also invited judges of superior courts and members of bar associations of different districts.

The opposition members in the provincial assembly have also expressed apprehensions that the government was hell-bent to disrupt the CJP’s visit. Rana Sanaullah, Riaz Shahid, Jehanzib Imtiaz Gill and others said the government had planned to sabotage the peaceful programme of the CJP and the task had been assigned to the police and other government officers.

Meanwhile, the DBA office bearers held meetings with police and assured them of their full cooperation.

DBA president Tanvir Randhawa said stage would be set up in front of the revenue department offices where the CJP and other guests would address the participants.

He said not a single political worker would be allowed to enter the premises. Only lawyers would be allowed entry.

He said the caravan of the CJP would be received at Dengro Bridge.

Regarding the arrival of judges of apex courts, he said invitations had been dispatched to all the judges and it would be premature to say that how many would accompany the CJP.

He categorically said that any ‘highhandedness’ would be responded the same way.

On the other hand, police raids are continuing to arrest the ‘trouble makers’. However, political workers and activists have gone underground and evolved an alternative plan to make the CJP’s visit a success. Different police stations have registered cases against the leaders of the PPP and the PML-N to stop them from attending the reception for the CJP.

PMA: Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has also jumped into the arena and announced that it will accord a warm welcome to the CJP. It said that doctors would perform special duties on the day. — Staff Correspondent