Lahore, Dec 4: US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson was not allowed to meet detained Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan at his residence.

The Punjab Government has extended Ahsan’s detention period for further 30 days, saying, if released, he could instigate lawyers to agitate against the government.

Patterson told reporters outside Ahsan’s residence that she tried to get special permission from the Punjab Government to meet him, but was denied the same.

She said she would try again to get permission to see Ahsan. She, however, met Bushra Aitzaz Ahsan, the lawyer’s wife.

"We have demanded from the Pakistan Government to release all political detainees, particularly Aitzaz Ahsan," Patterson said.

The situation turned odd for Patterson when two American human rights activists, Medea Benjamin and Tighe Barry, who have been staging a vigil outside Ahsan’s residence asked, ‘Why the Bush Administration was supporting Musharraf?’

Patterson ignored them as she hurriedly got into her car.

Annoyed by Patterson’s attitude, both activists shouted at her, repeating their question at full pitch. They also tried to stop her car. They shouted that ‘this administration is not representative of the American people’.

Bushra Aitzaz, giving details of her meeting with Patterson, said that the Ambassador had expressed grave concern over the political unrest in Pakistan.

‘US is not appreciating these arrests and the suspension of judges and the Constitution’, The Nation quoted her, as saying.

How free and fair elections can be possible when political figures are under arrest, Bushra quoted Patterson, as saying.

Bushra said she (Patterson) condemned Musharraf’s claim and assurance to the US that all detainees have been freed. (ANI)