Crackdown on lawyers, politicians

* Aitzaz, Bhoon detained, Imran and Asma put under house arrest

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Law enforcement agencies on Saturday launched a major crackdown on lawyers and politicians across the country following the declaration of a state of emergency by President General Pervez Musharraf earlier in the day.

Police rounded up dozens of lawyers including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan and Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon, both of whom were arrested from their residences. Aitzaz was arrested under 3 MPO with the aim of detaining him for 30 days.

Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan said early on Sunday that he had been placed under house arrest, AFP reported. “Police entered my house in Lahore and told me that I am placed under house arrest, they did not show me any detention order at all,” Imran said.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairwoman Asma Jehangir was also placed under house arrest, a staff report adds. Several Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) activists and office-bearers were arrested in Lahore and Islamabad and quite a few escaped and went into hiding.

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