Celebrated lawyer and critic Aitzaz Ahsan has said the real target of the court procedures bill passed by parliament is Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is next in line to become chief justice.

“Umar Ata Bandial is a judge with restraint, it is you (Isa) who is the real target because you believe in expanding the law to its full jurisdiction,“Ahsan said.

Aitzaz Ahsan made the remarks via videolink in a lawyer’s convention organised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Islamabad on Monday.

“You should not fall into the trap,” he told Justice Isa. He added that Justice Isa was a remarkable judge by the way he had passed orders in the Faizabad Sit-in case and tilor hunting case.

He added that the current chief justice was steadfastly fighting an attempt to violate the constitution.

He also said that the only reason there was a political crisis in the country is because the government does not want elections in Punjab and KP. He also said that the 90 day limit was a ‘negative imperative’ meaning that elections could be held before 90 days were up but not before.

Aitzaz added that if elections were not held the caretaker governments would cease to have any legitimacy beyond 90 days and would be akin to imposed governments.

He said that finding an excuse to delay elections would be the same thing as bringing back the doctrine of necessity which was used by dictators to impose their will on the country.

“Justice Bandial is fighting in the footsteps of Justice AR Cornelius,” he added.

Aitzaz said that lawyers of the country will guard against the use of the doctrine of necessity and against any violation of the constitution.