March 15, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 6, 1429

LAHORE, March 14: PML-N president Mian Shahbaz Sharif on Friday offered Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan to contest by-polls with the support of his party.

“Besides not pitching a candidate against him, I am willing to campaign for his election,” Mr Sharif told reporters after a meeting between the two leaders at his DHA residence.

Mr Sharif alleged that delaying the convening of provincial assembly sessions was part of conspiracy the presidency was hatching against democracy.

He said there was a complete unanimity of views among parties forming the coalition government at the centre on the issue of restoring the pre-emergency judiciary.

Mr Sharif lauded the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of judiciary generally and the role of Mr Ahsan, Munir Malik, Ali Ahmed Kurd, Justice Tariq Mahmood (retired) and Hamid Khan particularly.

Shahbaz said Mian Nawaz Sharif would take a decision on the interim candidate for the office of the Punjab chief minister.

He said the date for the inaugural session of the Punjab assembly was not yet final because certain quarters were busy delaying the process of transfer of power.

Asked why had JI Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmad doubts about the PML-N and PPP decision on judiciary’s restoration, Mr Sharf said the APDM leaders wanted to keep pressure on the government for the restoration of the judiciary.

Mr Ahsan thanked Mr Sharif for offering him support in by-polls and said only his party, the PPP, could take a decision in this regard.