Justice Iftikhar accorded warm welcome in Karachi

Deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry arrived in Karachi on Saturday. Upon arrival at the Karachi airport, the deposed chief Justice was accorded a warm welcome by lawyers and workers of various political parties.

Security was beefed up in and around the airport building and the government has provided him with a bulletproof vehicle. The caravan of Justice Iftikhar will reach Karachi Bar where he will administer the oath taking of newly elected members of the Bar. The deposed CJ will also address a dinner reception being given in his honour by the Karachi Bar.

Justice Iftikhar is accompanied by former president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan and other lawyers.

Rashid Razvi Elected as Sindh High Court Bar President

Lawyers of the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) elected Justice (Retd) Rasheed A Razvi, as president of the association for a second consecutive term. He secured a landslide victory by getting 890 votes out of a total of 1082 votes cast by the voters. Khawaja Naveed Ahmed secured 132 votes while Ghulam Qadir Jatoi secured 38 votes.

This is the third time that Razvi has been elected as SHCBA President; he was elected for the first time in 2000.While addressing to a charged lawyers gathering after the announcement of election results, Justice Razvi said: “Today’s victory is a referendum for our movement and I assure you that the lawyers will continue their struggle for the rule of law and the independent judiciary in the country. Our struggle will not stop but gain momentum if the judiciary is not restored to the pre-November 3 position,” he warned. “Lawyers have given overwhelming support and I will not disappoint them and continue struggle to safeguard judicial institution, welfare of lawyers fraternity, survival of the country, Constitution and civil society,” he added.The lawyers celebrated the victory by dancing to the beats of drums and raised slogans for the restoration of deposed CJP Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary.

According to results, Z.K Jatoi advocate was elected as Vice President with 645 votes while Munirur Rehman was declared as returned candidate for third consecutive term for the office of Honorary Secretary with 680 votes. SHCBA Secretary Munirur Rehman said that whoever shall come in the way of lawyers struggle should remember the fate Musharaf. Asim Mansoor Khan was declared as returned candidate for the post of joint secretary by getting 658 votes while Akhlaq Ahmed was declared successful for the post of treasurer with 520 votes.

The nine members who were elected for SHCBA’s managing committee are: Sohail Abbas, Tanvir Sibtain Mahmud, Khalid Hameed, Shahid A Bajwa, Khaliq Ahmed, Noman Khan, Mohammad Ismail Memon, Mrs. Shahnaz Ishtiaq while two candidates Shafaat Hussain and Azizuddin Qureshi got equal votes and they will each remain as members of the committee for half a term.

Sindh High Corut Bar Polls Today

The lawyers of the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) are all set to elect their president and office-bearers for the 2008-09 session.As many as 1,392 members will cast their votes.Election Commissioner of SHCBA said that all arrangements for the election had been completed. He said that polling would start from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Three candidates – Ghulam Qadir Jatoi, Khawaja Naveed Ahmed and Rasheed A Razvi - are contesting for the post of President while Latifur Rehman Khan Survery and Z.K. Jatoi advocates are contesting for the post of Vice-President.

Two candidates Munirur Rehman and Salahuddin Gandapur advocates are contesting for the Honorary Secretary while Ms Tayaba Jabeen and Asim Mansoor Khan will contest for Joint Secretary. Sarwar M Khan and Ikhlaq Ahmed Khan advocates are candidates for the post of Treasurer