RAWALPINDI, Dec 15: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Rawalpindi, have reiterated its demand for the release of the detained leaders of religious parties, including Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maulana Abdul Haq Baluch and other leaders before Eid.

In a joint statement, the JI leaders have pointed out that on the one hand, the government was holding negotiations with the political parties, but, on the other hand, it had detained the religious leaders.

They said if the government was sincere in creating an atmosphere of moderation, it should set free all leaders of religious parties.

It said the arrest of religious leaders appeared to be a conspiracy of the bureaucracy to spoil the peaceful atmosphere. — Reporter