LAHORE, June 22: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was accorded a warm welcome at the Lahore airport when he arrived here on Friday evening for an overnight stay before leaving for Multan on Saturday morning.

He is visiting the southern Punjab city on the invitation of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (Multan Bench) to address a lawyers’ convention.

When Justice Iftikhar came out of the airport along with Supreme Court Bar Association president Munir A. Malik and other bar leaders, hundreds of lawyers, political workers and leaders welcomed him.

The CJ remained stuck up at the airport for over an hour because of heavy rush of the people gathered there. Flowers were showered on the CJ’s car which was escorted by hundreds of vehicles from the airport to the GOR (government officers’ residence) where he will stay for a night.

The CJ’ motorcade will leave for Multan from the Punjab University, New Campus, at 6am on Saturday. Punjab University students and teachers, political workers and representatives of civil society organisations will be present to see the CJ off.

Hundreds of lawyers from all over the province will accompany the chief justice. The participants of CJ’s motorcade will be served brunch at Phoolnagar.

The CJ will be welcomed by Kasur District Nazim Rana Mohammad Hayat Khan and Pattoki and Chunian tehsil nazims on his arrival in Pattoki. He will also be accorded warm welcomes in Okara, Sahiwal, Cheechawatni, Mian Channu and Khanewal during his 340km journey to Multan.

Justice Iftikhar will have a brief stay in Sahiwal to enquire after the health of lawyers injured in a police operation.

A large number of lawyers and political activists are scheduled to reach Multan from across the Punjab. The Multan bar has also invited judges of superior and lower courts to the convention.