December 24, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 13, 1428

LAHORE, Dec 23: The reported manhandling of SCBA president Aitzaz Ahsan at the time of his fresh detention drew a demonstration on The Mall on Eidul Azha and a protest meeting at Iqbal’s mausoleum on Sunday.

Lawyers and civil society members gathered outside Aitzaz Ahsan’s Zaman Park residence on Friday evening and held a candle-lit vigil. Later, they gathered on The Mall and chanted slogans against President Musharraf.

The distributed pamphlets among the passersby and sung Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s poems and the national anthem before dispersing peacefully. Policemen stood by but did not try to create any hurdle.“They could allow Rashid Rauf to escape but deny Aitzaz Ahsan his freedom,” said Mrs Bushra Aitzaz while talking to reporters. She lashed out at the government for boasting about democracy and keeping under curbs judges, lawyers and the media.

“There are some things that you just got to do,” said Sara Zaman, a representative of Teachers Action Forum, when asked about her presence on the protest on Eid day. “How could we remain aloof to the treatment meted out to the judges and lawyers?” Mansoor Ali Shah advocate responded to a query.

On Sunday, members of civil society, lawyers and students marched inside Iqbal’s mausoleum, held speeches and appealed to the people to stand up for their rights. They were first blocked by police from entering the mausoleum but were allowed to proceed when they said that they would hold a demonstration on the road.

Around 300 protesters, holding placards and banners, inscribed with slogans for freeing judiciary, stood on the stairs leading to the mausoleum and made speeches. Speaking on the occasion, Mrs Bushra Aitzaz said the army had been guilty of robbing the rights of the people. She added the upcoming election would not be different and would be engineered on the pattern of the elections held in 2002.

She said Musharraf had been keeping his illegal hold on power for the past nine years and removed the judiciary because he knew they would thwart his plans to stay on.

SCBA media adviser Muhammad Azhar, Justice Nasira Iqbal (retired), Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) representative Dr Zahid Mohiuddin and rights activist Hamid Zaman also spoke on the occasion. Justice Jawad S Khwaja (retired) of the Lahore High Court was also present on the occasion.

Later, the protesters visited the Lahore Press Club and expressed solidarity with journalists. They criticized curbs on media and visited the Geo office.

BALOCH: Jamaat-i-Islami naib amir Liaquat Baloch on Sunday handed over a letter written to PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan to Mrs Aitzaz Ahsan.

According to a statement issued here on Sunday, Mr Baloch was denied a meeting with Mr Ahsan. The JI leader met Mrs Ahsan and expressed his support for the struggle her husband had launched.

He said people respected the lawyers’ movement for the rule of law and independence of judiciary. He said his party supported the movement, which would bear fruit. Mr Baloch condemned the government for denying Mr Ahsan Eid prayers and a visit to graveyard, where his elders rested. He said the party was holding conventions throughout the country to make the masses aware against the election.