10 March 2005	Thursday	28 Muharram 1426

ISLAMABAD, March 9: The Aabpara police on Wednesday arrested a Sindh revenue department official from the premises of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club camp office here when he was about to hold a press conference against the chief minister of the province.

Abdul Hafiz Shoro had just started the press conference to speak about his victimization allegedly by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim when he was taken into custody.

The journalists of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and office-bearers of the press club protested over the police action on the press club premises. They said if the police wanted to arrest the accused in any case, it should have either arrested him before he entered the building or after the press conference.

The journalists also staged a protest demonstration outside the police station for the breach of sanctity of the press club by the police. Later, the media persons also staged a token walkout from the press gallery during the National Assembly session.

They ended their boycott after Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Ejazul Haq gave an assurance on the floor of the house that the government would ensure that no such incident occurred in the country in future.

He also said the government would inquire into the incident and take action against those found responsible. When contacted, Assistant Superintendent of Police Tahir Ayub said Mr Shoro was arrested near the press club not on the premises.

He said Mr Shoro was a proclaimed offender and a case had been registered against him by the Sindh police. He said the Sindh home secretary had written a letter to the chief commissioner, seeking help to arrest the accused.

A challan of Mr Shoro was also submitted to a court in Sindh, he added. He said a Sindh police official was in the capital to arrest Mr Shoro. The accused will be transferred to Sindh on Thursday after taking transit remand, he said.