Aitzaz Ahsan says long march galvanized people, achieved objective

ISLAMABAD : Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan said Wednesday that last week’s long march galvanized people from all strata of society and demonstrated the nation’s anxiety over the judiciary issue. Speaking at a press conference, he said the massive gathering in the capital demonstrated people’s will for the restoration of judges of the superior judiciary.
He cautioned that people might loose their sangfroid if the matter of restoration of judges was stretched further.
The SCBA leader said they were keeping a vigil and believed that the parliament could restore the deposed judges without any constitutional package.
“The objectives of long march were achieved,” he said and defended the decision not to stage a 24-hour sit-in.
He said there were no two opinions among the leadership of Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association over the matter of staging a sit-in.
Aitzaz Ahsan said they fully respect the sentiments of young blood who wanted a sit-in but pointed out that it would have created problems for such a big crowd.
He said nobody should have the false notion that after the long march the lawyers’ movement is finished and vowed that the peaceful movement would continue till the restoration of the deposed judges.
The Supreme Court Bar Association and the Pakistan Bar Council would hold meetings on June 21 and 28 respectively to evaluate the situation, he said.
Describing himself a diehard PPP worker he said, “My affiliation with party is totally firm and I will not part ways with party despite my difference over the mechanism for the restoration of judges.”
He expressed gratitude on the part of legal fraternity to all those participants and donors, including from Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Federally Administered Northern Areas, for making the long march a success.
To a question, he said that he would thank the government only when they restore the deposed judges.
He said the six-day long march remained peaceful and it enhanced the country’s image among the comity of nation who no longer want to see turmoil and agitation in Pakistan.
Affirming his loyalty to deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, he said he would continue to fight for his cause.
He flayed certain moves aimed at dislodging him from the office of president of SCBA.
President Islamabad Bar Association Haroon ur Rashid, President Rawalpindi Bar Association Sardar Asmatullah Khan and Athar Minahallah were also present at the press conference.