LAHORE, Feb 20: The Zaman Park residence of the detained Supreme Court Bar Association President, Aitzaz Ahsan became the focus of attention here on Wednesday as people from all walks of life first held a demonstration there and later defied his restraining orders.

On their way back from a protest march — taken out from outside Aitzaz Ahsan’s residence to The Mall — the protesters went inside the residence and brought him outside on their shoulders. A wave of surprise and joy swept the protesters who whistled, applauded and chanted slogans for Aitzaz.

“I am elated,” Advocate Ayesha Amin gave a spontaneous reply to a query on how she felt upon his brief release. “I am not related to Mr Ahsan; I am just a concerned citizen of Pakistan,” she replied to another question.

Hundreds of others shared her feelings with the PPP workers going a step further in their enthusiasm over Aitzaz’s sight. They chanted slogans, beat drums and danced after arriving at the spot by a truck.

The policemen deployed in front of Aitzaz’s residence played silent spectators as Aitzaz was taken to Canal Road amid roaring slogans and deafening shouts of joy. Mrs Ahsan was seen shouting slogans in the favour of the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry along with a dozen of other women as her spouse passed by.

Sandwiched between jostling journalists, Aitzaz gulped a glass of water before walking back to his office where he held a formal press conference. He repeated his call for the revival of the pre-emergency judiciary and ruled out any compromise with any political party in this regard.

Earlier, the members of civil society, lawyers, political activists and students took out a rally from Aitzaz’s residence to The Mall. The number of people, who usually gather on Sundays at Zaman Park to protest removal of judges and detention of lawyers, almost doubled.

Holding placards, posters and banners, the protesters gathered on The Mall and distributed flyers among the people passing by. The protesters and speakers demanded restoration of the judiciary and freedom for all the detained lawyers.

The rally, organised by the Concerned Citizens of Pakistan, was also attended by Justice Nasira Javed Iqbal (retired), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan council member Shahtaj Qazilbash, former PMA president Dr Yasmin Rashid, Campaign for Democracy and Rule of Law Pakistan coordinator Abdullah Malik, Bushra Aitzaz, South Asia Partnership coordinator Muhammad Tehseen, Institute of Peace Studies chairperson Saeeda Diep and several others.

Nasira Javed said Musharraf should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution for abrogating the most basic law, though his trial could be based on several other serious charges.

She said the people had already given their verdict which was a slap on the faces of those who were trying to dictate the nation.

CCP representative Hamid Zaman said the civil society and lawyers had played a crucial role in compelling the government against rigging the election. He added that the people, engaged in the struggle for the rule of law and independence of judiciary, would not abandon their efforts unless the judiciary was restored.

Dr Yasmin said the civil society’s struggle would continue till the restoration of judiciary and release of the lawyers.