ISLAMABAD, 11 April 2007 — Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov will arrive here today on an official visit to Pakistan.
Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said yesterday Pakistan and Russia are expected to reactivate the commission concerning trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation during the Russian prime minister’s visit.
Fradkov, during his two-day visit, will hold talks with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
The major focus of the visit would be to promote bilateral relations with particular emphasis on ways to enhance economic cooperation, Tasnim said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Aziz will pay an official visit to China from April 15 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Tasnim said.
Bar Suspends Membership
A Bar association in the central Punjab province suspended the membership of Chaudhry Amir Hussain, the speaker of the National Assembly, for refusing to participate in a protest rally against the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. The rally is slated for April 13. Lawyers’ associations have decided to hold rallies across the country on April 13 when the Supreme Judicial Council takes up the case against Chaudhry. Hussain is a member of the Sialkot Bar Association.
Hussain, who is in Sialkot to organize a public rally for President Musharraf, told Arab News on phone the association cannot suspend his membership because he is a life member of the Bar. “Being the speaker of the National Assembly, I cannot take part in any anti-government rally,” he said.
He said the Bar association had no authority to block his entry to the district courts. Sialkot Bar Association President Muhammad Iqbal Hararr told Arab News, “The Bar rules are very clear. If the association takes a decision it becomes mandatory for every member.”
The Faisalabad Bar Association recently suspended the membership of Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar for supporting the government measures against the chief justice.
