KARACHI, Aug 3: The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights Pakistan (LCHRP) has declared former senator Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) acting president Javed Hashmi as "prisoners of conscience" and demanded their immediate release.

President of the LCHRP Aqil Lodhi Advocate told a press conference that the committee's meeting, held on July 30 and 31, had adopted a resolution regarding detention of both the leaders, whose details were being provided to the press.

According to the LCHRP resolution, there were more than 250 political figurers detained in Pakistani jails including leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari, acting president, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Javed Hashmi, Orangi Town nazim, Karachi Shahid Alam alias Guddo Bihari, Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) chairman Afaq Ahmed, its secretary Amir Khan and MPA Younus Khan.

The resolution further said that some judges were administered oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) and some under the 1973 Constitution, which was creating confusion.

All provincial chief justices of high courts should be appointed as judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, while senior judges should be made chief justices of high courts, it demanded.

The meeting also expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, saying it was essential to build a sense of security among the common people as the president, corps commander, federal minister and chief minister were being targeted by terrorists.

The freedom of expression was a basic human right, but there were some serious concerns in this regard. Newspapers were being forced to adopt a policy of self-censorship.

The meeting condemned government action against some newspapers with an opposing opinion, and ban of government advertisements for these newspapers. The immediate restoration of government advertisements and halt of censorship and press advice were demanded in the LCHRP's meeting.

A resolution was also adopted for of immediate justice to the masses, as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) had levelled allegations of corruption that had taken strong roots in Pakistan's judicial system in the shape of bribes. - PPI