Islamabad, Nov 25 (ANI): Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association (PSCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan has refused to make a deal with the caretaker Pakistan Government for his release and will remain in detention at his home in Lahore.
Sources close to Aitzaz said that despite efforts made by two cabinet members to persuade Aitzaz to accept a “deal” with the government not to go to the Election Commission in a procession to file his nomination papers.
Dr Abdullah Riar and Ansar Burney, two caretaker ministers, met Aitzaz Ahsan in jail and offered the release on the condition that he would not lead a procession.
“He was especially asked to visit the Election Commission office in Lahore alone without any supporters. Aitzaz refused to give any assurance in this regard,” The News quoted sources, as saying.
“I didnt want to be released by brokering any deal,” they said.
Sources said that the government was planning to take Aitzaz to the Election Commission office in police custody in a bid to keep a crowd of lawyers away from meeting their leader.
Bushra Aitzaz, wife of Aitzaz Ahsan, when approached on phone from Lahore said she was receiving different news from government circles.
Minister Ansar Burney said that he visited Aitzaz on Thursday, but did not lay down any condition for his release.
“He is my friend and I want him and all others to be released unconditional,” Burney said.
Aitzaz was kept in detention in Adiyala jail since the imposition of emergency and sent to Lahore only to file his nomination paper.
The Election Commission had on Friday asked the Interior Minister to facilitate all the political detainees to file their nomination papers to the returning officers.
Aitzaz, however, is not released but shifted to Lahore and it is likely that he would put under house arrest till the filing of his nomination papers. (ANI)