December 12, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 1, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan on Wednesday said the government would release Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan if he gave up his plan for launching an agitation by leading a ‘judicial bus’ for freedom of the judiciary.

Talking to reporters after a ceremony held to ratify an extradition treaty with China, the minister said the government would release Mr Ahsan if he gave an assurance that he would not launch any agitation campaign.

Asked about his statement that all detained lawyers, including Mr Ahsan, would be released in 72 hours, the minister said the Punjab government was not ready to release them.

Asked about the extradition of Balochistan Liberation Army activists at present in the United Kingdom, he said the foreign ministry was in contact with the UK government in this regard.

Earlier, Pakistan and China ratified the bilateral extradition treaty signed four years ago.

Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah and Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui signed the documents. Visiting Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi was present.

The interior minister said the accord would come into force on Jan 10, adding that the two countries would soon prepare a list of wanted people.