23 December 2004	Thursday	10 Ziqa'ad 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said the arrest of Asif Ali Zardari was a legal matter, and the government had nothing to do with it.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday after inauguration ceremony of a highway here, the minister said the government was not afraid of any PPP leader.

He said the counsel for Mr Zardari had not submitted any prior application before the district and sessions court in Karachi seeking exemption of Mr Zardari's appearance in the hearing in Justice Nizam murder case.

Mr Sherpao said Mr Zardari's counsel could not give valid reasons before the court to justify his client's absence from the court's proceedings. On this the judge gave his verdict, cancelling the bail of Mr Zardari and forfeiting the surety money as well, he added.

He said Mr Zardari had been released from house detention on Wednesday under the orders of the Sindh High Court. "We obeyed the orders of the district and sessions judge, Karachi, and arrested Mr Zardari. And the orders of the high court which announced the release of the PPP leader have also been honoured," he said.

He said the transfer of the judge who had cancelled Mr Zardari's bail had nothing to do with the judgment. Responding to a question about national reconciliation, Mr Sherpao said, "Neither there is any hindrance in this process, nor the government wants to back out."

Replying to a question about the situation in Wana, the minister said the situation in that area was gradually improving. He agreed that foreign militants were still in Wana, and the ongoing operation by the country's security forces would continue till the 'terrorists' were flushed out from there.

The minister denied the report that the US forces had intruded into Pakistan's territory from Afghanistan to hunt terrorists in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area. Mr Sherpao ruled out the possibility of formation of a national government in the country, saying the present conditions in the country were quite satisfactory, and there was no need for a national government.