November 07, 2007	Wednesday	Shawwal 25, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 6: Senator S M Zafar, chairman of the Human Rights Society of Pakistan and senior vice-president of the ruling PML, has condemned the countrywide crackdown on lawyers and human rights activists who were protesting against an extra-constitutional action which is directly related to judiciary and the lawyers community.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, he said he had addressed a letter to PML President Shujaat Husain urging him to use his influence to secure the release of rights activists, including Asma Jehangir, and all lawyers.

“The situation in the country demands that the process of liberalisation and democratisation must go on.

Accordingly, the election of the National Assembly and all other assemblies should be held on time as indicated by the prime minister.”

Senator Zafar said: “The news of some judges of the Supreme Court being confined in their houses is denounced, and the prime minister who is the chief executive of the country should personally intervene in the matter and direct the law enforcement agencies to show due respect for all those judges who have been performing their duties and have not been given under the PCO”.

TI: The Tehrik-i-Istaqlal on Tuesday condemned the arrest of political activists and lawyers, and ransacking of barrooms.

In a statement issued here, party’s information secretary Hanif Goraya said the president had given his last punch to the Supreme Court and the media to prolong his rule.

He praised those judges who refused to take oath under the PCO. He said banning the transmissions of private television channels would further spread chaos in the country and deepen uncertainty among people, further weakening the federation.

He appealed all political parties, intellectuals, owners of electronic and print media, traders, workers associations and people to struggle for saving the country.

He demanded immediate release of lawyers, political activists and journalists and lifting the ban on the transmissions of private television channels.

—Political Correspondent