LAHORE, Feb 1: PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif met Supreme Court Bar Association President Aitzaz Ahsan at his Zaman Park residence here on Friday.

The meeting, which lasted 30 minutes, was not made public to the press.

Talking to journalists after the meeting, Shahbaz said he had congratulated Aitzaz on his release and the role he was playing for the independence of the judiciary.

He said the PML-N respected the lawyers’ community and appreciated their tenacity in pursuing the cause of the judiciary.

He pledged not to bow before the dictatorship which, he warned, was casting a dire threat against the federation of Pakistan.

A representative of the civil society asked Shahbaz to ensure his presence in their rallies for the restoration of the judiciary.

When Shahbaz said he would give it a try, the representative said he should make sure.

Speaking on the occasion, Aitzaz said he was grateful to the PML-N president for visiting him. He said PML-N patron Nawaz Sharif had also telephoned him and congratulated him on his release.

Aitzaz said he was scheduled to leave for Naudero on Saturday (today) to visit Benazir Bhutto’s grave and condole with Asif Ali Zardari.

He said he did not have any political agenda to discuss with Zardari. However, he added, if something important came up, he would definitely let the press know.