QUETTA, April 4: In a surprising development, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry received official protocol when he left his hometown for Islamabad on Friday. His vehicle was escorted by 25 vehicles of police and Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF) contingents headed by SSP Quetta Qazi Abdul Wahid.

Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, senior lawyers, including Balochistan High Court Bar Association (BHCBA) president Baz Mohammad Kakar and Pakistan Bar Council vice-chairman Ali Ahmed Kurd were present at the airport to set off Justice Iftikhar who spent three days in the provincial capital.

Justice Iftikhar was scheduled to leave Queeta on Thursday but because of dusty weather his flight was cancelled.

During his stay in the city, he addressed a lawyers’ convention. He also visited graves of his parents at the Kasi graveyard.

Meanwhile, Justice Iftikhar has scrapped plans to address lawyers’ associations across the country. A lawyer close to him has said that Justice Iftikhar will stay in Islamabad and avoid making speeches.

Ali Ahmad Kurd said the decision was taken amid expectations the new government would restore Justice Iftikhar and other judges axed in November.

“We took this decision on our own because we do not give any impression that we are pressurising the government,” Mr Kurd said. “The chief justice has to remain calm. There will be no statements and no addresses.”

But, Mr Kurd said if the government did not honour its promise to restore the judges ousted by President Pervez Musharraf within 30 days, Justice Iftikhar would address bar associations across the country. He also said that lawyers would hold a huge protest rally in Islamabad.

—Agencies