July 11, 2008	Friday	Rajab 7, 1429

LAHORE, July 10: Pakistan Bar Council member Hafiz Abdul Rahman Ansari says 11 out of the 21 PBC members have opposed receiving the Rs50 million grant from the government.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Ansari said the members believed that it was unethical to take money from the government unless it restored the deposed judges.

“A majority of the PBC members is with the lawyers struggle and it is this body which has been regulating the movement since March 9, 2007,” he said.

He expressed reservations over the statement attributed to SCBA president Aitzaz Ahsan that the PBC would not lead the movement.

“It is time to unite the community,” he added.

He said the PBC members by no means lagged behind others in running the movement as well as to keep up its momentum. However, he said, whoever among the PBC indulged in ‘plots politics’, would face wrath of the community. He said the movement had reached a point where anyone betraying it, would be looked down upon.

To a question on the constitutional package to restore the judges, Ansari said it was a ploy to buy time till the issue diffused. He said the government did not have majority to get the package through the parliament.

He said previously lawyers were confronting one Musharraf but in the form of Asif Ali Zardari they had another to tackle with as he was equally unwilling to restore the judges.

To a question on the PLF’s invitation to Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar to address lawyers in the city, he said, in his view, Mr Dogar would not come. However, he said, the PBC members would not disrupt the function of the lawyers forum but hold protest on his arrival.