RAWALPINDI, Sept 12: Around 140 leaders and activists of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), who were detained on the eve of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s arrival at Islamabad airport, were released from different jails of Punjab on Wednesday night, official sources said.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) acting president Javed Hashmi, Asfandyar Wali of the ANP and Zulfiqar Khosa of the PML-N had already been released on Tuesday.

Out of the 140 political activists, 80 were released from Adiala Jail after the district magistrate Islamabad withdrew their detention orders.

Among those released on Wednesday night were Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Liaquat Baloch, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Ahsan Iqbal, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Krishan Bheel.

APP adds: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has directed the provincial governments to release all the political workers who were detained earlier this week for maintenance of law and order in the country.

According to a presidential spokesman the directive was issued by the president in view of the advent of the Holy month of Ramazan.

The spokesman said the president wished every Pakistani to observe Ramazan with due solemnity and in true spirit of tolerance and forbearance.