March 18, 2003	Tuesday	Muharram 14, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 17: Former senator Asif Zardari’s request for release for a month to enable him to be with his mother-i-law Nusrat Bhutto in Dubai, who is stated to be in a critical condition, was turned down on Monday.

An official told Dawn that the government got information that Ms Bhutto, who had been admitted to hospital on Sunday, was operated upon on Monday, she had recovered and was out of danger. “She is at home, so the question does not arise for his release for one month,” the official said.

Mr Zardari, who had made the request to the prime minister for release on Sunday through his counsel, made another request on Monday. The PPP also endorsed the request and urged the prime minister to release Mr Zardari on humanitarian grounds. Farooq H. Naek, counsel for Mr Zardari, told Dawn that no official had responded to the appeal.