09 May 2004	Sunday	18 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

LAHORE, May 8: The PML-N claimed on Saturday that police had arrested its over 1,000 workers and office-bearers so far in different parts of the province.

PML-N Provincial Information Secretary Zaeem Husain Qadri told Dawn that police and law-enforcement agencies had intensified raids against the party leaders and workers to prevent them from welcoming their leader, Shahbaz Sharif, on May 11.

He claimed that plainclothesmen also raided the residence of Punjab PML-N President Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa at Defence and harassed his servants. "Any attempt to arrest the provincial party chief will strongly be resisted," he said, adding that the party workers and leaders could not be intimidated by the government's illegal tactics.

Preventing the party workers from welcoming their leader was tantamount to violating human rights, Mr Qadri said. Besides, he said, Shahbaz's deportation would be a contempt of court.

In a statement, PML-N Secretary-General Khawaja Saad Rafique condemned the detention of the leaders and workers. He said the return of the party leader had unnerved the rulers, who were using 'undemocratic' tactics against the legal political activities.

According to a PML-N press release, the police arrested some of the office-bearers on Saturday, including office secretary Dr Abdur Rashid, Nawaz Sharif's personal secretary Sheikh Aftab Ahmad's son Hashim, additional secretary-general (Kasur) Allah Ditta Bhatti, general councillor (Kasur) Haji Ahmad Bhutta, KotRadha Kishan president Zafar Iqbal and information secretary (women) Rukhsana Kaukab.

The police raided the residence of the party ticket holder for PP-152, Tauseef Qureshi, and youth wing secretary-general Rana Ijaz Ahmad and harassed their families.

General councillor Aslam Sharif and Chaudhry Maula Daad's son Shahid were held in Garden Town, besides a number of arrests in the factory area, Ghaziabad, Liaquatabad, Walton, and on the Lytton Road.

However, a police official confirmed only few arrests, saying that only those wanted in some cases already registered against them or were planning to create lawlessness were apprehended.

Reports reaching here from some districts said party workers demonstrated to protest against the arrests.