18 April 2004	Sunday	27 Safar 1425

SIALKOT, April 17: Eight PML-N leaders were arrested on Saturday for protesting against the conviction of party leader Javed Hashmi.

The police on Saturday noon uprooted the PML-N protest camp at Kutchery Road, beat up the participants and took eight of them to the Civil Lines lock-up.

Official sources said the arrested Leaguers include Sialkot district president Idrees Ahmad Bajwa, general secretary Hassan Hussain, chief coordinator Saleem Akhtar, Young Lawyers Forum general secretary Syed Sagheer Rizvi, additional general secretary Zahid Sidqiue, Mian Abdul Qadir, Rao Pervaiz and Wasim Ghuman.

Hundreds of party workers gathered outside the Civil Lines police station and chanted anti-government slogans, demanding immediate release of their arrested leaders.

No case had been registered against them nor they have been freed till the filing of this report.

Meanwhile, in a press release the party announced that it would take out a rally in the city on Monday (tomorrow) against the police action.

DRUG-PUSHERS HELD: Three women drug traffickers were arrested with 40 kgs of hashish, Hajipura police claimed on Saturday.

The seized contraband is worth millions of rupees.

A case has been registered against Irshad Begum, Safia and Munnaza.