24 April 2004	Saturday	03 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, April 23: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) president and acting president of Pakistan Muslim League-N Makhdoom Javed Hashmi has condemned the government for arresting and torturing over 3,000 party activists , who were protesting against his conviction in different parts of the country.

According to a press release, issued by the PML-N office here on Friday, while talking to his family members in Adiala Jail, Mr Hashmi said the government had been raiding various places to arrest another 3,000 party activists and it had registered cases against some 2,300 workers.

He said the present government had set a new tradition by snatching the right of protest from the people. He said the PML-N would continue its struggle till restoration of constitution and democracy in the country.

He said PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif would soon return to the country and the protest campaign against the military regime would enter into a decisive phase.