Washington, Jan 30: The New York Bar Association (NYSBA) has decided to honour incarcerated Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association (PSCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan in asbentia with the annual Award for Distinction in International Law and Affairs.

The award will be presented this week in the presence of over 5,000 lawyers, reports the Daily Times.

The NYSBA said Ahsan has been under frequent arrest for his efforts to restore Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as chief justice, noting that Pakistan’s legal and judicial community has been in conflict with the country’s leadership since President Pervez Musharraf suspended the constitution and replaced seven of the Supreme Court’s 11 judges.

Earlier this month, the New York City Bar Association granted honorary membership to Chaudhry.

In November last year, the city and state bars, as well as the New York County Lawyers Association, organised a rally, attended by about 700 people, at the Manhattan Supreme Court in support of Pakistan’s lawyers and judges. (ANI)