November 4, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 8, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: Opposition parties held a protest demonstration on the Constitution Avenue here on Monday against the detention of PML-N and ARD president Javed Hashmi after staging a walkout from the lower house proceedings.

The combined opposition also addressed newsmen outside the parliament house.

Earlier, prior to the NA proceedings, the combined opposition held its meeting in the parliament house and finalized its protest strategy. The ARD also held a separate meeting before joining the combined opposition’s meeting.

The combined opposition vowed that the momentum of the protest would be accelerated in the days to come.

A small number of party workers greeted the protesting leaders of the combined opposition on the constitutional avenue.

Speaking on the occasion ARD and PPP Parliamentarians chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim described the detention of ARD president as a dangerous turn in the ongoing opposition-government tussle over the LFO.

He vowed that the struggle which the opposition had launched for Mr Hashmi’s release and his production in the house would continue.

Deputy secretary-general of the MMA Liaquat Baloch said, Mr Hashmi’s detention was an attempt to divert the opposition from its struggle against the LFO but it had only succeeded in adding a new momentum to the struggle.

He said the combined opposition would continue its protest till Mr Hashmi was released and the government accepted that the arrest was a mistake.

He added the speaker must keep his promise that he made to opposition parties’ delegation twice by issuing Mr Hashmi’s production order.

Amir Wasim adds: The opposition members also boycotted the Iftar dinner hosted by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali for the parliamentarians and other dignitaries at the PM House on Monday.

The prime minister had invited some 500 guests for the party, but it was attended only by about 170 people. “Even a large number of treasury members were not present at the party,” sources said.

A majority of the ARD members attended two Iftar parties hosted by Nayyar Bokhari and Dr Azra Fazal. The MMA also kept themselves away from the PM’s Iftar dinner.