ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: The honours committee of the New York Bar Association has decided to bestow honorary membership on the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, in recognition of his contribution to the independence of the judiciary.

Mr Justice S. Rakoff, Chairperson of the Honours Committee of the association, has requested Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to accept this high honour. He has also requested the chief justice to visit the US at his convenience before spring for conferment of the award.

In a letter addressed to Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Justice Rakoff has pointed out that “the New York Bar Association is one of the largest, oldest and most prestigious associations of lawyers in the United States”. Justice Rakoff further says that the Fordham Law School, NY, one of the finest law schools in the US also wants to coordinate with the New York Bar Association in recognition of the contributions of the CJ of Pakistan to the independence of the judiciary, as presentations will be arranged both at Fordham Law College and the NY Bar Association in the chief justice’s honour.