Pakistani lawyers' case for judges' restoration not closed: Ahsan

WASHINGTON - The president of Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan, said Thursday that the lawyers community would continue its struggle until the independent and fearless judges are restored to office.

"(T)here will be no closure of the issue," he said while talking about the next lawyers' long march in support of reinstatement of the judges deposed by President Pervez Musharraf at a gathering of human rights activists, sympathizers and journalists at the local office of Amnesty International.

Stating that the June 10 long march was a "warning shot" that remained entirely peaceful, but he warned that the next one may not remain peaceful and "it may not remain in my hands as violent elements may take it over." As for the timing of the next march, he said it would be a couple of months before it can be organized.

Ahsan is here for a number of engagements, including meetings on Capitol Hill and an address to a doctors' conference taking place here.