ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has demanded restoration of pre-emergency judiciary and withdrawal of restrictions on the functioning and movement of judges of the superior courts.

“It was nothing but a coup against an independent judiciary,” HRCP secretary-general Syed Iqbal Haider said at a press conference here on Thursday.

He said that Talibanisation of Pakistan was the real agenda of the government which had been accepting all demands of militants.

He alleged that General Musharraf had released two dozen terrorists soon after imposing the state of emergency.

He also accused Gen Musharraf of accepting all demands of Fazlullah who had kidnapped and beheaded soldiers of the Pakistan army.

He said that more areas in Swat had been surrendered to militants.

Athar Minallah, Dr Inayatullah and Professor K. H. Nayyar were present on the occasion.

Mr Haider called for withdrawal of the state of emergency and the Provisional Constitution Order, the oath of office administered to judges of the superior court under the PCO, amendments made to the Pemra ordinance and restrictions imposed on the media.

A heavy contingent of police had been deployed outside the HRCP office and many believed that Mr Haider would be arrested after the press conference.

However, apparently because of the presence of electronic and print media, he was allowed to leave the place although police vehicles chased his car.

Mr Haider said that ‘unconstitutional and illegal’ actions taken by General Musharraf were meant to perpetuate his undemocratic rule.

He said the arrest of judges, lawyers, human rights and political activists, leaders and members of NGOs and professionals proved that Musharraf wanted to punish them for the movement they had launched for the independence of judiciary.

He said that General Musharraf had entered into several agreements with the militants, the last one having been signed in September 2006.

The HRCP secretary-general regretted that instead of acting against terrorists, the regime had arrested 3,000 law-abiding citizens.

He rejected General Musharraf’s allegation that the Supreme Court had released militants.

He said the decision in the Lal Masjid case had been given by the judges who took the oath under PCO on November 3.

He said the new administration of Lal Masjid recently announced support for Fazlullah and declared Pakistan Army personnel were infidels.

He regretted that no action had been taken against a government employee who had issued such an irresponsible statement.

He said the emergency was an assault on independent judiciary and was against all those who stood for a modern, liberal and tolerant Pakistan.

He condemned the rude and inhuman treatment meted out to judges of superior courts and members of their families who had been locked in their houses.

He said that Justice Javed Iqbal suffered a mild heart attack on Wednesday but was denied any medical facility and daughter of Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was not allowed to go out to take an examination.

He alleged that several lawyers were being subjected to physical torture.