LAHORE, Dec 23: Acting President of PML-N Makhdoom Javed Hashmi was released on parole for two days on Saturday and the police drove him to Multan to enable him to attend the wedding ceremony of his daughter.

Mr Hashmi, who is undergoing a 23-year term in Kot Lakhpat jail on sedition charges, said he had filed no application to seek permission and the government had released him on its own.

He was scheduled to go to a dental hospital on Saturday. However, before the time fixed for the purpose, he was told that he would be taken for a check-up rather earlier and he should prepare himself.

He said he followed the instructions. But instead of being taken to the dental hospital, he was driven to Multan.

Mr Hashmi, who is also the president of the ARD, had consistently been saying that instead of moving an application to seek permission to participate in the wedding ceremony, he would prefer to stay in jail on the day of the wedding.

He reiterated that free and fair elections were not possible in the presence of President General Pervez Musharraf.

The PML-N leader underlined the need for unity among the opposition parties to mount pressure on the general to quit.