Aitzaz withdraws candidature from by-election
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service

LAHORE: President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Chaudhary Aitzaz Ahsan has announced to withdraw his candidature from the by-elections being held next month.

Speaking to media here on Sunday,he said that he had filed nomination papers for NA-55,Rawalpindi but now he announced that he would not contest the polls to focus on lawyers movement for restoration of the deposed judges.

He said that he also wanted to save his Pakistan People’s Party from any difficult situation regarding his participation in the elections at a stage when he was leading the lawyers movement.

“ Had I contested the by-polls I would not be able to continue movement, as I have to go to various cities of the country for the lawyers movement”, he added.

To a question, he said that democratic process in India was moving ahead successfully because of independence of judiciary.

Aitzaz said that civil society and common citizens would fully participate in the long march of June 10 for which lawyers had given a call.

The long march would write a new chapter in the history of the country, he said.
“We will have to come on roads to save future of our children, he said and added that people will make the march a success by the grace of Allah”.

He said that the deposed judges will address bar association on the invitations of office-bearers of the bars.

To a question, he said that the lawyers have planned several other phases of the movement after the long march.

He said that he has supported the restoration of judges through resolution in a joint session of the parliament.

To a question, he said that he believes in the words of Asfand Yar Wali for restoration of the judges but the lawyers community can not waste time keeping in view the promises of past which remained unfulfilled.●