BAHAWALPUR, July 22 Federal Law Minister Babar Awan on Thursday cancelled his visit to the district bar, apparently because of a division in the bar.

Sources said bar vice-president Owaisur Rehman opposed Awan's visit and any grant from the law minister. He said lawyers would resist any temptation and offers that could hamper the efforts for the rule of law and independence of the judiciary.

It is learnt that Awan was told about the split by intelligence agencies. He was also told that the situation could deteriorate and lead to any unpleasant incident.

Bar president Akhtar Muneer Peerzada told Dawn all arrangements for the minister's visit to the bar were finalised and preparations were under way for a dinner on Thursday night when he received the minister's message in the afternoon regarding cancellation of his visit.

He said he was asked to attend a function at the Bahawalpur High Court Bar Association on Friday (today).

He said the vice-president did not oppose Awan's visit to the bar and added that some lawyers belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) could be behind the move.

In the evening, the district bar issued a press release, saying its executive committee held an emergency meeting where it regretted cancellation of minister's visit. It said there was no grouping in the bar.

The press release said some lawyers with vested interests were harming the bar in connivance with the district administration, and the executive committee condemned such lawyers through a resolution. The resolution said that action could be taken against bar members harming bar's interests. It said no government functionary belonging to any political party would be allowed to visit the bar in future.

The meeting decided that the bar on Friday would observe a complete strike against the district administration, which was working on a political agenda.

The meeting asked the prime minister to release funds for the bar that he announced during his Bahawalpur visit.

It also asked the government to release Rs20 million, which Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto promised for the bar in 1996.—Correspondent