LAHORE, Nov 8: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asma Jahangir on Thursday urged representatives of lawyers’ bodies in other countries to approach their governments to pressure Pakistan to release all lawyers and judges and immediately provide access to senior lawyers Muneer A Malik, Tariq Mahmood, Ali Ahmed Kurd and Aitzaz Ahsan.

She also urged bars to hold press conferences in their countries and express solidarity with the lawyers of Pakistan who were struggling to establish the rule of law.

In an e-mail message sent by the AGHS, she said, “I am fortunate to be under house arrest while my colleagues are suffering. The Musharraf government has declared martial law to settle scores with lawyers and judges. While terrorists remain on the loose and continue to occupy more space in Pakistan, senior lawyers are being tortured.

“The civil society of Pakistan urges bar associations all over the world to mobilise public opinion in favour of judges and lawyers in Pakistan. A large number of judges of superior courts are under arrest. Thousands of lawyers are imprisoned, beaten and tortured.

“In particular, the cases of Muneer A Malik, Aitzaz Ahsan, Tariq Mahmood and Ali Ahmed Kurd are serious. Muneer A Malik, the former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association and leader of the lawyers’ movement, has been shifted to the notorious Attock Fort. He is being tortured and is under the custody of the military intelligence.

“Tariq Mahmood, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was imprisoned in Adiala jail. No one was allowed to see him and it is reported that he has been shifted to an unknown place. Mr Ali Ahmed Kurd, former vice chair of the Pakistan Bar Council, is in the custody of military intelligence and being kept at an undisclosed place. Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan, President of the Supreme Court Bar is being kept in Adiala jail in solitary confinement,” she said.

Canadian envoy: Police did not allow the Canadian deputy high commissioner here on Thursday to meet Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asma Jahangir, detained at her residence since the imposition of emergency rule in the country.

According to a press release issued by the HRCP, Nicholas Coghlan, head of the Canadian mission in Islamabad, drove to the house of Ms Jahangir to call upon her but was politely turned away by the keepers of the sub-jail that her house had become.