05 November 2004	Friday	21 Ramazan 1425

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KARACHI, Nov 4: As Asif Ali Zardari completed eight years in detention on Thursday, without conviction in any of the cases framed against him, the Pakistan Peoples Party, headed by Ms Benazir Bhutto has demanded his immediate release.

Bilawal House spokesman said on Thursday that although Mr Zardari had been kept behind bars for eight years, he had almost served time equivalent to two life terms if prison rules on remission were taken into consideration.

During his detention, Mr Zardari was linked with secret dealings with the government, which he vehemently denied, and said that he would never compromise on principles for his freedom.

Leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro slammed the government for keeping Mr Zardari behind bars to blackmail the PPP leadership.

He commended Mr Zardari for resolutely facing all torture and the government's strong arm tactics, even at the cost of his health and personal security.

He also slammed the government for subjecting not only Mr Zardari, but also his wife and children to the worst kind of torture.

Owing to his imprisonment, Mr Zardari's children grew up without the guidance and the much needed attention of their father.

According to lawyer Shahadat Awan, Mr Zardari, who was arrested between the nights of November 4th and 5th, 1996, was implicated in 16 cases. Out of those, he was acquitted in two cases, while he was granted bail in the 13 other.

Only the BMW case pertaining to disputed duty on the import of a secondhand car, instituted in December 2001, was pending. It was aimed at preventing Mr Zardari's release when the courts had ordered him to be set free.

Mr Zardari's bail application has been pending for more than two years, and it finally came up for hearing on October 27. However, it was once again not heard and a date in office was given.

The cases in which Mr Zardari was implicated pertained to the steel mills, attempted suicide, Murtaza murder case (pending hearing), Justice Nizam murder case (no charge framed) and Alam Baloch case.

Mr Zardari, who was a polo enthusiast, was suffering from acute back pain, blood pressure, diabetes, and a host of other ailments. He had been compelled to sparingly use crutches owing to his back ailment. While he was in detention even when his mother passed away.