PESHAWAR, Nov 14: The Awami National Party (ANP) has decided to hold a protest on Friday and called upon its workers across the NWFP to come out on the streets against the emergency rule in the country.

The decision to this effect was taken in a meeting held here at the party central secretariat on Wednesday.

The meeting was presided over by acting central president Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, a press release said.

The meeting discussed the post-emergency situation and decided to mobilise people against the government action. The party directed workers to hold rallies in all towns of the province on Friday, it said.

The ANP denounced the detention of lawyers, political workers and human rights activists, and curbs on print and electronic media. It called upon the government to release all political prisoners and lift the media restrictions.

The meeting was informed that leaders of the All Pakistan Democratic Movement would meet in Peshawar on Nov 17 to discuss the next line of action.

Meanwhile, police released ANP provincial chief Afrasyab Khattak and Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti from central jail, Peshawar, on Wednesday.

ANP central culture secretary Hashim Babar was shifted to the Haripur jail.