February 16, 2008	Saturday	Safar 08, 1429

LAHORE, Feb 15: A senior lawyer of the Supreme Court has written a letter to the judges of the superior courts to take notice of the prolonged detention of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan, former SCBA president Justice Tariq Mahmood (retired) and former Pakistan Bar Council vice-chairman Ali Ahmad Kurd.

Advocate Tariq Aziz said under Article 10 (4) and 10 (6) of the 1973 Constitution, a citizen could not be detained beyond 90 days unless he was produced before a review board of the high court.

Recently, another lawyer, Barrister Zafarullah, had also filed a petition before the Supreme Court, challenging Aitzaz’s detention.

The SCBA had condemned the move and asked the petitioner to withdraw his petition because the bar did not recognise the superior courts judges as legitimate ones for their opting to take oath under the Nov 3 Provisional Constitution Order (PCO). The bar viewed the petition as a tool to dent to the lawyers’ movement for the independence of the judiciary and its restoration to pre-Nov 3 position.

Bushra Aitzaz, the spouse of the detained SCBA president, said Barrister Zafarullah was a hand in glove with the establishment to undermine the drive for the restoration of around 50 superior courts judges deposed after the promulgation of the Nov 3 PCO.