September 19, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 18, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Sept 18: Deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry will address lawyers’ convention at Lahore high Court bar Association (LHCBA) Rawalpindi bench on September 24. Later, the bar association would host an Iftar party for the CJ and the lawyers.

Addressing a press conference at LHCBA premises the bar President Sardar Asmatullah said the legal fraternity would observe September 23 as Iftikhar Day.

Criticising President Asif Ali Zardari and the present government for not fulfilling their promises of restoring all the sacked judges, the leader of the lawyers said their struggle for the independence of judiciary would get pace after Eidul Fitr.

President HCBA claimed delay in restoration of judges aimed at keeping Iftikhar Chaudhry out of the Supreme Court was creating unrest among the common man.

He said fresh oath by the deposed judges according to Federal Law Minister Farooq H Naek formula was unconstitutional and it was adopted to keep the deposed CJ out of the court and vowed that the lawyers movement would continue till the return of Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Condemning the heavy deployment of law enforcing agencies outside SC building, he said it showed government’s weakness as it was afraid of lawyers struggle. He said on Thursday it was a token protest and that they could bring out massive rallies like the ones that were witnessed on the eve of long march.

Dispelling the impression that their was any rift among the members of the bar associations, Sardar Asmatullah said the government had been trying to create split by offering different offers and jobs to the legal fraternity but except for the lawyers attached with the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) nobody had accepted any offer neither had budged an inch on his stand. All lawyers are agreed on unconditional restoration of all deposed judges including the CJ.

The HCBA president was flanked by General Secretary Malik Siddique Awan, President District Bar Association Sardar Tariq Masood, former president LHCBA Chaudhry Ikram and local PPP leader and lawyer Chaudhry Masood Akhtar.

The bar representatives said they would invite Punjab Chief Minister to address the LHCBA after Eid apparently aimed at boosting their ongoing struggle for the restoration of deposed judges.

After the press conference at high court bar, the lawyers held general body meeting at DBA demanding immediate and unconditional restoration of all sacked judges.