The Hindu : National : Two advocates held

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004

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National

Two advocates held

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD, NOV. 23. Advocates of the Gujarat High Court, the Ahmedabad Sessions Court and the Metropolitan Courts went on a flash strike today following the arrest of two lawyers for alleged links with Pakistan'sInter-Services Intelligence.

The agitation spread and advocates in Surat, Vadodara and other cities boycotted courts.A senior advocate, H. N. Jhala, and his junior, Mustaq Sayeed, who were counsel for the accused in the Akshardham terrorist attack, the serial tiffin bomb blasts in the Ahmedabad buses, and some other alleged ISI-linked cases, were arrested late last night. They are likely to be produced before a Special Court.The Additional Police Commissioner (Crime Branch), D. G. Vanjhara, alleged that Mr. Jhala and his junior had "direct links" with Pakistan-based terrorist Sharif Khan Pathan and were acting as his "frontmen" in Gujarat. He claimed that two revolvers and live cartridges were recovered from Mr. Sayeed's houselast night.

The police came to know more about the two advocates while investigating the murder of the former Minister Haren Pandya.

Police charge

Mr. Vanjhara also alleged that Sharif Khan was in Ahmedabad soon after the Godhra train carnage and had distributed arms for revenge and that he was helped by the two advocates.

The Gujarat Bar Association president, Yatin Oza, described the arrest of advocates as a "shame on democracy." Other advocates said that 75-year-old Mr. Jhala was highly-respected and his arrest on such "concocted grounds" was unacceptable.

The Congress has criticised the arrest. The Opposition Leader, Arjun Motavadia, described the arrest as "political victimisation" and that the "rule of jungle" prevailed in the State.

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