KARACHI, Dec 18: The Karachi Bar Association has postponed its annual dinner to which Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was invited, citing rescheduled bar election and dispelling the impression that the CJP’s presence in the city might prompt a strong reaction over the issuance of a contempt notice to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief.

The annual dinner of the KBA was planned to be held on the Sindh High Court premises on Saturday and the chief justice was invited as chief guest on the occasion. According to a press release of the KBA issued on Tuesday, the event was postponed because the annual election of the bar was rescheduled. The body of the bar also extended an apology to the chief justice for postponement, it added.

KBA President Mahmoodul Hasan dispelled the impression that the event was postponed as the chief justice’s presence in the city might attract a reaction over the issuance of a contempt notice to the MQM chief and claimed that it was not possible for the incumbent body of the KBA to hold the event on time since the election was rescheduled for Dec 19.

A new date for the annual dinner would be announced after the bar election and the chief justice would be invited again to attend the event, he maintained.

KBA polls today

The postponed KBA annual election for the year 2013 will be held on Wednesday when the members would elect their 17-member representative body comprising six office-bearers and 11 managing committee members.

The election, earlier scheduled for Dec 15, was postponed as the city was in the grip of fear and panic due to forced closure of business and transport on that day.

The legal proceedings will remain suspended at the city courts on Wednesday as undertrial prisoners will not be transported to the courts.