Violators of SC Nov 3 order to be punished

The CJP, however, did not comment on the constitutional package, announced by the PPP on Saturday, but his lawyers strongly criticised it.

Meanwhile, addressing the convention, President Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan has rejected proposed constitutional amendment, aimed at slashing down CJP's tenure to three years, saying that it would amount to minus one formula which they had already dismissed.

He said the proposed constitutional package was not aimed at honouring the deposed judges, rather it would amount to punishing them for what they did for the independence of the judiciary by declining to take oath under PCO.

Apprehending that judges would not be reinstated before June 10, Aitzaz called upon the lawyers to make preparations for the Long March.

He said lawyers wanted to see a strong parliament but the parliament too should endeavour for that.

He added that a strong parliament could not be established on the debris of the judiciary because a strong judiciary would protect the parliament.

Hamid Khan said he was not expecting such a controversial constitutional package from PPP because only a dictator could introduce these types of amendments.

He said PPP wanted to reward a person who betrayed his oath on November 3 by showing his allegiance to a dictator. The lawyers would reject any such constitutional amendment that would curb the independence of the judiciary.

He said PPP should learn a lesson from history when in 1996 as result of confrontation with the judiciary its government was rolled over. PPP is making efforts to strengthen the beleaguered Musharraf, he added.