Firebrand Pakistani lawyer released

Lahore, Mar 3 (UNI) Firebrand Pakistani lawyer and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Aitzaz Ahsan's 120-day-long house arrest came to an end when the provincial government decided not to extend his detention orders any further.

Soon after his release last night, the lawyer, who fought former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry's case in the Apex Court against presidential reference, warned the incoming Prliament to restore the judges, failing which the lawyers and masses will take to the streets.

The Punjab home department removed the police cordon and barricades placed outside Aitzaz's Zaman Park residence, local daily The News reported today.

Home Secretary Khusro Pervez said that the government had decided to release Aitzaz Ahsan following the completion of the first phase of transfer of power.

Aitzaz Ahsan had been released earlier too for one day but was again placed under house arrest. He was arrested soon after the promulgation of emergency on November 3, last year, by President General Pervez Musharraf.

Ahsan, who had announced to hold a long rally from March 9 for restoration of judges said, it has been deferred.

''We will be holding a black-flag week from March 9 to March 15 and I request all civil society members and students to participate in a number of protest rallies organised by different bars across the country during the week,'' he added.

He said that the lawyers would continue their struggle till the restoration of judiciary and release of detained and prosecuted people, while they also wanted the winning political parties to fulfill their promises and the mandate given by the people of Pakistan.

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