Aitzaz released after 120 days detention
Bureau Report

LAHORE—President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)Aitzaz Ahsan has been released after detained for 120 days. President SCBA would address a press conference today (Monday). After his release, Aitzaz Ahsan has also demanded the release of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary. The President SCBA was detained for the last 120 days and he was released on Sunday noon.
Talking to media men here at his residence, Aitzaz Ahsan said that the decision of long march has been postponed for some time and if the new Parliament did not take steps for the restoration of the judiciary then march would be held. The parties who will support judiciary he said we will support them thick and thin. He said that Black Week would be observed from March 9 and the lawyers of all Bar Associations would participate.
The veteran lawyer announced that he would visit Gari Khuda Baksh today (Monday) to pay visit to the grave of late PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto. Interior Secretary Khusro Pervaiz while confirming the release of Aitzaz Ahsan said that the jail staff has bee removed from the residence of Aitzaz Ahsan while the temporary check post established near his house has also been abolished.
President Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan has said decision to stage long march has not been withdrawn adding if judges are not reinstated then 160 million people will carry out Long March. He said this while addressing civil society representatives, lawyers and workers of PTI and PPP who had assembled outside his residence on the occasion of termination of his detention.
He warned if the newly elected parliament did not reinstate the judges and ensure independence of the judiciary then it would be a fragile parliament and its prime minister and members will be weak. Time will come a dictator will again sabotage it, he added. Members of assembly will be arrested and they will contact people to solicit their support. Then no one will join hands with them, he underlined.
He went on to say the decision for reinstatement of judges was taken due to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who had said on November, 10 that Iftikhar Chaudhry was still chief justice of Pakistan.
Whosoever among us says that steps taken by Pervez Musharraf on November, 3 can not be revoked without the help of parliament he in fact approves these steps, he announced. He appealed to the people to hoist black flags on their homes and vehicles from March 9 to 16.
The detention of Aitzaz Ahsan, President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) ended as the government of Punjab withdrew the police contingents posted outside Aitzaz’s residence here on Sunday. Azhar Siddiq, media advisor,SCBA told APP that the government has not issued any notification regarding extension in Aitzaz’s detention till Sunday evening.
Co-Chairman of PPPP Asif Ali Zardari has called a meeting of the Parliamentary Party of the Pakistan Peoples Party on Thursday, March 6 at Zardari House in Islamabad . According to a press release, all elected MNAs including those elected on reserved seats have been asked to attend the meeting.
Meanwhile Senator Asif Ali Zardari left this morning for Dubai for a day to meet his children. He would return on Monday.
While talking to media Aitzaz Ahsan said that his struggle for restoration of deposed judges would continue. It is pertinent to mention here that Aitzaz was detained by the government on November 03,2007 while his four months detention was completed between Saturday and Sunday night.