22 April 2005	Friday	12 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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LAHORE, April 21: Police kept the Bilawal House cordoned off on Thursday, disallowing anyone except neighbours to enter the area close to the old airport terminal. Even journalists were denied access to the residence of Asif Ali Zardari who had announced to offer Maghreb prayers at Data Darbar. Police had been deployed on all routes to keep away PPP workers as well as newsmen.

Zardari was to leave for the shrine at 5pm, but police buses virtually blocked the way as the PPP leader was told that he was under house arrest. The police could not produce warrants on Zardari’s demand, and later allowed him to go at 6pm but in a motorcade of just two vehicles.

All traffic signals were switched off when Zardari escorted by police left for Data Sahib “to facilitate him to reach there in time”.

A few hundred PPP workers welcomed him at the shrine and chanted slogans for him and the party. After saying Maghreb prayers and offering Fateha, he was escorted back to his residence.

Earlier, the police allowed heads of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy components to meet Zardari at his residence only after keeping them waiting for a long time.

Qasim Zia, Munir Gilani and others argued with the police when they were not allowed to enter the Bilawal House.

A press release issued by the Bilawal House’s media cell says the ARD leaders, who called on Zardari, expressed their confidence in his struggle for the restoration of democracy and assured him their cooperation in this regard.

Talking to press at the Bilawal House and later at Data Darbar, Zardari said the Punjab government was suffering from “Zardari phobia”. He termed the ruling PML a fascist party which was scared of democracy and freedom of expression. He said victimization of political opponents was a joke with democracy.

He regretted that the MMA had been given a free hand to organize million-man marches and rallies, but the PPP was not being provided the same opportunity.

BASHARAT: Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja said that after having no response from Lahorites during his visit to Data Sahib, Asif Ali Zardari should now leave Punjab.

In a statement, the minister said that there were no restrictions on Zardari to visit the shrine or any other place but he waited for four days and went to Data Sahib on Thursday. “However, he faced disappointment due to lack of public response.”

Raja said that PPP had evolved a programme for politics of chaos and anarchy at the time when industrial and other developmental projects were being inaugurated in almost every week in the province under the leadership of Pervaiz Elahi.

“The people of Punjab are fully aware of the intentions of PPP and they know the fact that this party has the same agenda for the destruction of industrial process as it had in 1970.”