KARACHI, Jan 2: Secretary-General of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Iqbal Haider on Wednesday strongly condemned an extension in the illegal detention of Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, and Ali Ahmed Kurd, a member of the Pakistan Bar Council, and Justice (Retd) Tariq Mehmood, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

In a statement, Mr Haider said that the regime’s decision of extending their detention was without any legal or moral reason or justification. He described the act as personal vengeance prompted by these leaders’ successful pleading of the case of deposed chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. He said the detained leaders of the legal fraternity had played and were still playing a heroic role in the movement for the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law, freedom of the press and restoration of a true democracy.

The HRCP leader expressed his shock and dismay over the federal and Punjab governments’ stubborn attitude towards Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, who had repeatedly requested for permission to participate in the funeral of PPP chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto. It was against all norms of decency and ethics particularly because Mr Ahsan was a prominent central leader of the PPP and a former federal minister, he added.

“This is height of vengeance, vendetta, bias and prejudice of the regime,” Mr Haider said.

He recalled that Mr Ahsan was released one day before Eidul Azha to celebrate the occasion with his family for three days but was re-arrested the same day and manhandled by plainclothes policemen. He was then driven around and about in Chakri and Chakwal in an open police van before being brought to Lahore next morning. The reprieve granted to him was also cancelled.

He demanded immediate release of Mr Ahsan, Justice Mehmood, Mr Kurd and all other lawyers, and warned the government that at this crucial juncture, the crises that had gripped the country would deepen further if such illegal and vindictive actions and policies were not withdrawn forthwith.