Thursday, January 3, 2008

Statement from Mrs Bushra Aitzaz Ahsan

At this moment there is a Quran Khawani for Mohtarma Benazir BhuttoShaheed outside our house in Zaman Park in Lahore. The Quran Khawani has been arranged by me but my husband, Aitzaz Ahsan, has not beenallowed even to step out of the house and participate in the QuranKhawani. He is detained in our house at No. 5, Zaman Park which hasbeen declared a sub-jail and as of today his detention has been further extended for a period of 30 days. In fact the security andpolice presence outside our house has been greatly increased and abattalion of policemen guard it now in fear that he may come out andjoin in the prayer meeting.

My husband was also disallowed from participating first in the funeraland then in the soyem at Naudero. He had formally applied to theFederal Government through the Punjab Government and the jailauthorities to go to Naudero but the application was denied.

Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan again applied on the 30th December for a reprieve fora mere two hours to join the Quran Khawani outside his house. Thisrequest has also been refused.

Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan was arrested on November 03, the day General Musharraf imposed the Emergency. He was initially detained in solitaryconfinement in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and then to house arrest inLahore.

One day before Eid he was released for three days to enable him to celebrate Eid but was re-arrested on the same day at Chakriinterchange on the motorway and was manhandled by plainclothespolicemen. He was then driven around and about Chakri and Chakwal inthe middle of the night in an open police van and brought to Lahore in the morning. The reprieve granted to him was also cancelled.

Due to exposure to extreme cold and sub-zero wind-chill Mr. AitzazAhsan ran high fever with aches and pains for several days but has nowrecovered.

Ever since he applied to go to Naudero the security around his househas been beefed up. All phone lines were cut and the cell phones ofthose who reside therein have blocked and jammed after Mr. AitzazAhsan made a condolence call to Mr. Asif Ali Zardari on the day of the funeral.
Meantime, the Federal Government has further extended the detention ofMr. Aitzaz Ahsan for a period of 30 days with effect from 01.01.2008.