According to his family, Aitzaz Ashan was picked up and arrested at a motorway restaurant on his way from Lahore to Islamabad.
“Six armed men, including four uniformed police, appeared and dragged him to a waiting police van,” according to his son, Ali Ashan, in an interview with Reuters.
The prior arrest took place six weeks ago under a state of emergency executed by President Musharraf. The country’s state of emergency ended on Saturday. Mr. Ahsan was placed under house arrest. His arrest was lifted for three days which over the Muslim holiday of Eid.
“There was tremendous pressure to release him, nationally and externally,” his son explained.
His son adds: “But the government got scared after his release when he met with members of the opposition and talked to all the media.”
Mr. Ahsan has said that he intends to continue campaigning for the dismissed judges to be reinstated. He became a prominent figure when he acted as judge Iftikhar Chaudhy’s chief counsel.
The judge was suspended in March and ousted in November under emergency rule. Mr. Ahsan’s campaign turned into anti-government protests.