LAHORE, March 17: The Lahore High Court on Monday reserved verdict on a petition challenging release of Indian prisoner Kashmir Singh. Petitioner-lawyer MD Tahir stated the release was illegal and a joke in the face of the confinement of the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and his family members.

He said the caretaker federal minister for human rights, Ansar Burney, made efforts for release of Kashmir Singh but not for the deposed chief justice of Pakistan and other judges of the Supreme Court.

The petitioner said between 1997 and 2002 he had made efforts not only for the release of Pakistani prisoners but also for Indians, including Kashmir Singh.

He said Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum (retired) had dismissed his petition for the release of Kashmir Singh on the ground that the prisoners in that category could not be released.

Mr Tahir also stated that in 2001, on an LHC order, he went to Attock Fort to meet former prime minister Nawaz Sharif who was detained there, but he was not allowed to see him.

He said he remained in custody of an army major for about four hours and a contempt petition against that army officer was still pending before the LHC.

He added in 2006 he had requested the government of Pakistan through PML-Q secretary general Mushahid Hussain for release of a Kashmiri freedom fighter Afzal Guru, but failed.

He said the people like Ansar Burney should also think for the release of illegally detained citizens of Pakistan.