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Last Updated: Friday, 21 December 2007, 18:08 GMT
Pakistan lawyer back under arrest
Aitzaz Ahsan, Lahore, 20 December
Mr Ahsan is a leading critic of President Musharraf
A leading anti-government lawyer in Pakistan is back under arrest, hours after he was freed for the Eid holiday.

Aitzaz Ahsan was picked up at a motorway restaurant on his way from Lahore to Islamabad, his family said.

"Six armed men, including four uniformed police, appeared and dragged him to a waiting police van," his son, Ali Ahsan, told Reuters news agency.

Mr Ahsan was arrested six weeks ago under a state of emergency which President Musharraf ended on Saturday.

Government 'scared'

Aitzaz Ahsan said on Thursday his house arrest had been lifted for three days over the Muslim holiday of Eid.

"There was tremendous pressure to release him, nationally and externally," said his son.

"But the government got scared after his release when he met with members of the opposition and talked to all the media."

Aitzaz Ahsan reiterated on Thursday that he intended to continue campaigning for dismissed judges to be reinstated.

He rose to prominence this year when he acted as chief counsel for judge Iftikhar Chaudhry, the chief justice President Musharraf suspended in March and finally ousted in November under emergency rule.

Police prevented Mr Chaudhry from leaving his house on Friday to offer Eid prayers.

The lawyers' campaign snowballed into anti-government protests during the spring and summer.

The demonstrations - and a wave of militant attacks which show no sign of abating - have provided President Musharraf with his toughest year in office since he seized power in 1999.



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