The UK legal profession and leading human rights groups are calling on the Pakistani authorities to release and reinstate lawyers and judges imprisoned in Pakistan in the recent constitutional upheaval.

The call by The Law Society of England and Wales, the Association of Muslim Lawyers and the Bar Council and groups including Justice and Liberty coincides with the visit of President Musharraf this weekend.

In a letter to The Times today, eight legal and human rights organistions say that Pakistan "must re-establish and comply with internationally recognised standards for the rule of law".

Among judges and lawyers still being detained are the former Cheif Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, and the president of the Supreme Court Bar, Aitzaz Ahsan. A retired judge, Ranan Bhagwandas, was also put under house arrest this month.

The three legal representative bodies are due to meet the High Commissioner of Pakistan next week. The Law Society had originally requested a meeting with President Musharraf during his visit to London, but he was unavailable.

Other lawyers and human rights groups have organised events to coincide with President Musharraf's visit.

The Solicitors' International Human Rights Group (SIHRG), the Society of Asian Lawyers and Amnesty International are holding a demonstration outside Downing Street, from 12 noon to 2pm on Saturday, January 26.

Michael Ellman, chair of SIHRG, is urging as many lawyers as possible to attend the demonstration.

He said: "The public in Britain, and especially the legal community, is very concerned about the situation, and particularly for our colleagues in Pakistan who have been persecuted for standing up for the rule of law."

Andrew Holroyd, president of the Law Society, said: "The rule of law requires the judiciary and the legal profession to be independent and free from political interference. At our meeting next week, the Law Society will again urge the government of Pakistan to return to an internationally recognised standard of the rule of law and to release and reinstate those lawyers and judges who remain in detention. I am sure many solicitors will want to demonstrate our profession's commitment to the rule of law on Saturday."

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