LAHORE, Jan 8: The Supreme Court Bar Association is holding an “all parties conference” on Thursday (tomorrow) to discuss current national political situation, especially after the announcement of a long march on Islamabad by Dr Tahirul Qadri.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, SCBA President Mian Israrul Haq said Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif, Chaudhry Shujaat Husain of PML-Q, Jamat-i-Islami, MQM, ANP, JUI and other registered political parties had promised to participate in the APC.

He said Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf was yet to respond to the bar’s invitation while Dr Tahirul Qadri was not invited to the conference for not being head of any registered political party.

Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran was not a political party but a non-government organisation, he said answering a media query.

SCBA Secretary Javed Iqbal Raja, Vice President Punjab Tahir Chaudhry and other office-bearers were also present on the occasion.

Mr Haq said though the government failed to keep its promises, democratic system was the best mechanism to run the country.

He said all institutions, including army, the judiciary, parliament and the people of Pakistan wanted democratic system in the country and timely elections, he said.

He said the country needed many reforms but the timing of the long march announced by Dr Qadri was not appropriate as it was just ahead of general elections.

Mr Raja said the APC was convened to know the opinion of political parties and legal fraternity about the prevailing situation in the country. He said the democratic system should not be derailed and fair elections must be held without any delay.

He told the media the APC would be held in a hotel on The Mall where Nawaz Sharif would be the chief guest of the morning session while Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf would attend the afternoon session.

Besides noted lawyers, present and former presidents of SCBA will also address the conference.