LAHORE, Nov 23: Bushra Ahsan, the wife of Aitzaz Ahsan and a PPP activist, said on Friday there was still no news about when her husband would be released in spite of the Election Commission’s orders to set at liberty all those who wished to contest elections.

Addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, she said her husband had not yet been able to file his nomination papers because he remained in custody, and that the nomination papers would be sent directly to his jail cell.

Dozens of party members of the Pakistan’s People’s Party, Tehrik-i-Insaaf, lawyers, journalists and representatives of the Pakistan Labour Bureau responded with cries of ‘shame’ as Ms Ahsan launched into a scathing attack on actions taken by Gen Musharraf during the state of emergency.

She said: “The real chief justice of this country is under house arrest. There are locks on his doors. His children are being prevented from going to school and college. Rana Bhagwandas is in jail. And while they’re kept in confinement, we are all living in a ‘jail’ on the outside.”

Later, responding to questions, she said: “the human rights minister said Mr Ahsan was going to be released tomorrow (Saturday). But then I found out from Liaquat Baloch that we should send the nomination papers to the jail because there was still no news. We are still waiting. The Election Commission of Pakistan has ordered all those detained to be released so they can file their nomination papers, and their order is being violated.”

She said: “Aitzaz Ahsan has a right to be released so that he can put in his nomination for constituency 124 that he’s fighting for from Lahore.”

Ms Ahsan said she was “100 per cent certain” that the elections would be rigged in favour of the PML, and accused the regime of giving “all its cronies” ministerships under the interim government.

When asked whether this would prevent the PPP from contesting, she said: “For now, everyone has been asked to file nomination papers. The ultimate decision will be taken whether they will contest the elections or not.”

Ms Ahsan rounded off her address by adding that civil societies should not lose hope and instead redouble their efforts. “We still think we will fight. On the 9th of March when the chief justice of Pakistan was dismissed. But then what happened? A miracle happened — and that was the restoration of the judiciary. And even today I think, if we fight this battle together, a new miracle can happen,” she said.

Meanwhile at the Geo Offices on Davis Road, the employees continued their street protest and candle-light vigil. Wearing black armbands and black clothing, Geo staff held pro-freedom speech banners and participated in a dance.

Schoolchildren were bussed in to chant slogans and give interviews for Geo TV, and the cast of hit satirical show “Hum sab umeed say hain” made victory signs and enacted short skits.

Jamaat-i-Islami Vice-President Liaquat Baloch and numerous other political figures came to express their solidarity.