February 07, 2008	Thursday	Muharram 28, 1429

LAHORE, Feb 6: The government disallowed Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan to attend the Chehlum of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) slain leader Benazir Bhutto at Naudero. The Chehlum is being held on Thursday (today).

Mr Ahsan filed applications with Punjab and Sindh home departments for travelling to Naudero to attend Bhutto’s Chehlum.

In his applications, the detained lawyer said being a member of the PPP Central Executive Committee, it was in the interest of justice that he be allowed to attend the Chehlum of his slain leader.

Earlier, Mr Ahsan had sought permission on Dec 27 to attend the burial of Ms Benazir, but the government denied his request. Later, the Punjab government did not allow him to participate in the Soyem and then Quran Khawani organised by his wife outside his house.

“I have booked a ticked for myself from Lahore to Karachi to Naudero. I will attend the Chehulm and offer Fateha at Benazir’s grave if allowed to travel,” he said.

Mr Ahsan earlier tried to go to Sukkur from Lahore airport after his brief release on Jan 30, but he was denied permission to board the plane as the Sindh government had banned his entry into the province.

Mr Ahsan was arrested on Nov 3 after the imposition of emergency by then chief of army staff Pervez Musharraf.