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Aitzaz defies govt, emerges from detention

* Claims government offered him ‘conditional’ release, govt denies statement
* Says lawyers will march on Islamabad unless judges restored by March 9
* Predicts ‘devastating’ political circumstances if PPP, PML-N do not work together

Staff Report

LAHORE: Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan on Wednesday defied the orders of his house arrest as he came out of his residence in the evening to address the lawyers, political parties’ workers and civil society activists.

As Ahsan entered his chamber, the lawyers present there chanted slogans, carried him on their shoulders and took him out on to the road. Hundreds of lawyers and civil society representatives, carrying placards and portraits of sacked chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, had planned a vigil there in candlelight to protest against Ahsan’s detention.

Later, a large number of lawyers and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) activists joined the protesting lawyers with a truck, decorated with PPP banners and posters, and boarded Ahsan on it. The protesters took to the Canal Road, which remained blocked for more than half an hour.

Although policemen were deployed at his residence, they did not stop him. The protestors also offered bouquets to Ahsan and congratulated him on his ‘self-release’. However, his official release orders have not been issued so far.

Addressing the protesters, Ahsan told them that on Wednesday noon, an official from the caretaker Punjab government had approached him and offered him a conditional release. He said he was asked not to take part in any political activity in return for his release, adding that he rejected the offer by the government.

However, a Punjab Government spokesman, denying the statement said Aitzaz Ahsan had not been offered any conditional release. “Restrained order has already been imposed upon him. Any violation of the order will be dealt with legally,” he said.

Earlier, addressing a press conference at his chamber, after meeting with US Consulate Principal Officer Bryan D Hunt, Ahsan demanded the restoration of all sacked judges and said if the judges were free to act, the judiciary would be independent.

He said a two-third’s majority was not a prerequisite for the reinstatement of the judges. “Only an executive order can restore them, as they were removed through an executive order,” he said. Vowing to go to Islamabad at the earliest to work for the restoration of the judiciary, he said the PPP’s stance regarding the independence of the judiciary was very clear.

Ahsan said the late Benazir Bhutto had acknowledged that Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was the actual chief justice of Pakistan, and the PPP could not back down on this.

He said coalition governments would be formed, except in Sindh, and anti-Musharraf forces would make an alliance. He said, “If the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) fail to form a joint government, the political circumstances of the country will be those of 1988, which may be un-controllable.”

Ahsan said Makhdoom Amin Fahim was the most suitable candidate for premiership. “The next prime minister of Pakistan should be chosen from Sindh,” he said, adding that Benazir Bhutto had always reposed her confidence in Amin Fahim.

Lawyers’ march on Islamabad: Aitzaz Ahsan said lawyers would begin demonstrations in Islamabad unless judges axed by President Pervez Musharraf during his November emergency rule were restored. He said the opposition’s victory in the elections was an ‘eye-opener’ for Musharraf, and that should persuade him to quit.

Ahsan said he expected to be released soon, and warned that if the sacked judges were not restored by March 9 – the anniversary of Iftikhar Chaudhry’s removal – lawyers would resume protests. “We will march on Islamabad from all directions,” Ahsan added.

He said eight years of military rule had “demolished the middle ground” and fanned Islamic extremism.

Ahsan said the US and Britain bore the responsibility for Benazir’s death because they had encouraged her to return from exile and share power with Musharraf. “She was assured by the West that she would be safe, that Pervez Musharraf would provide her with complete security,” Ahsan said, and added that they had not questioned Musharraf about why it was not provided.

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