Kurd's victory

THOSE who had written off the lawyers' movement as spent must have found out on Monday that they were badly mistaken. Mr Ali Ahmad Kurd, the firebrand leader of the lawyers' Professional Group, simply trounced his opponent, who was supported by the legal establishment, a segment of anti-movement lawyers and pro-PPP Peoples Lawyers Forum. Mr Kurd's victory would be interpreted by many as a verdict in favour of the struggle for an independent judiciary, centred round the restoration of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges. That Mr Kurd bagged 1,008 votes against 402 for his opponent indicates how unpopular is the cause of those opposing their restoration. While he won in all major voting centres, except Bahawalpur, Mr Kurd's decisive victory in Lahore was all the more significant because the city was considered by the anti-movement group their stronghold. Apparently Mr Kurd was also supported by many lawyers otherwise affiliated to the PPP.