KARACHI, June 7: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry is likely to visit the city on July 3 at the invitation of the Sindh Bar Council (SBC) for the concluding functions of the Supreme Court’s golden jubilee celebrations.

Munir A. Malik, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president and counsel for the chief justice, told journalists in the committee room of the City Courts that the date could be altered to suit the chief justice’s convenience.

Quizzed about the lawyers’ invitation in the context of the May 12 events, Mr Malik said that “the entire responsibility will rest with the government and if [the chief justice is] asked to obtain a visa for coming to Karachi, it will also be done.”

The chief justice would be given a warm welcome at the airport and the number of people supporting him was increasing since he had come to stand for judicial independence, said Mr Malik.

He added that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) amended Ordinance 2007 had been challenged in the Supreme Court and lawyers would support the media in the struggle against what he described as the current rulers’ dictatorial policies. He also praised the chief justice for creating awareness about the importance of an independent judiciary. Former president of the Karachi Bar Association Mahmood-ul-Hassan is tasked to organise the programmes in connection with the chief justice’s visit.

He said that for the moment, the schedule was the same as had been announced for May 12 and included the chief justice’s speech to lawyers at the Malir District Courts, his arrival at the City Courts from Mazaar-i-Quaid and an address at the Sindh High Court. He added that the subordinate judiciary’s vacation would end on July 2.