Supreme Court Bar Council President Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, former Vice President of Supreme Court Bar Council Ali Ahmed Kurd and former President of Supreme Court Bar Council former Justice Tariq Mehmood, were put under-house arrest in Lahore, Quetta and Islamabad, respectively.
These three senior advocates were torch-bearers of lawyers movement against the Musharraf regime after removal of the former Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, on March 9 in the wake of a reference filed against him.
The three "fire brand" lawyers were earlier put under house arrest soon after the imposition of the emergency in the country on November 2, and were released the other day after completion of 90-day legal detention period. However, through fresh detention orders, the government on Saturday again put them under house arrest for another one month.
Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan was picked from the Lahore airport where he was preparing to leave for Sindh in a bid to offer Fateha for the departed soul of Pakistan People Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto at Naudero. He was stopped at the airport by the authorities and asked to stay at home, showing him the arrest warrant, said Islamabad Bar Council President Haroon Rashid.
Former Justice Tariq Mehmood was also barred from visiting hospital. The police cordoned off his residence in Islamabad, whereas Ali Ahmed Kurd was put under house-arrest at his residence in Quetta, Haroon Rasheed claimed. The lawyers fraternity announced to strongly react against the government move, terming it illegal and inhuman act.
Haroon Rasheed said that the lawyers' community would not be demoralised by such arrests and would continue to fight for upholding the sanctity of judiciary. He said that lawyers would evolve a fresh line of action on Monday against the arrest of their senior colleagues.