May 17, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1428

ISLAMABAD, May 16: Family members of detained Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Rao Mohammad Tahir have appealed for his release.

In a statement issued here, they said that Mr Tahir was a heart patient and required regular medication.

Mr Tahir, PPP’s Sargodha district president, had been detained earlier this month under 16-MPO to prevent him from participating in opposition protest rallies during the judicial crisis.

They said he was arrested from Sargodha along with several other party workers, all of whom have been released, however, Mr Tahir was shifted to Mianwali Jail.

The government, they claimed, was forcing him to negotiate his release, but he (Mr Tahir) was adamant on securing an unconditional release.