WASHINGTON, Dec 13: Prominent US lawyers, participating in a teleconference with their colleagues in Pakistan, have demanded immediate release of all judges and lawyers still in custody and urged the government to restore the judges dismissed after the imposition of emergency.

The teleconference, hosted by the Bar Association of San Francisco, discussed the current situation in Pakistan and expressed concern over the suspension of the Constitution and the arrest of Supreme Court judges, lawyers and activists.

“For US lawyers, and those who believe that democracy is based on an independent judiciary that maintains the rule of law, it was shocking to hear about Supreme Court and high court judges still under house arrest,” the organisers said.

They noted that on Nov. 3, the Constitution of Pakistan was unilaterally suspended by the president, Gen Pervez Musharraf. By evening the majority of the Supreme Court judges were under house arrest. All Pakistani and international news channels were forced off the air.

US lawyers also learned from their colleagues in Pakistan that in order to curb criticism of the suspension of the Constitution, the government cracked down hardest on the lawyers. More than 5,700 lawyers, judges, activists and journalists were imprisoned for voicing their opposition.

The real reason for suspending the Constitution and purging the judiciary was that Pakistani law did not allow General Musharraf to continue in power, the lawyers were told.

The Pakistani attorneys, who participated in the teleconference, were Zahid F. Ebrahim, Khwaja Ahmed Hosain and Salahuddin Ahmed.

The teleconference was moderated by BASF President Nanci Clarence, Naomi Rustomje and Khurshid Khoja.

The Pakistani attorneys commented not only on the situation in Pakistan, but also the implications for the safety and security of the United States.

They noted that, according to Reporters without Borders, Pakistan was at 157th position on the Worldwide Freedom Index in 2006, worse than Libya and Syria.