FAISALABAD, Nov 17: At least 50 Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers were released on bail from the district jail on Saturday.

Ghulam Muhammadabad and People’s Colony police had arrested these workers a couple of days ago when they were trying to join a long march against the imposition of emergency.

They were booked under Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order.

Punjab PPP President Shah Mahmood Qureshi and provincial lawmakers Rana Aftab Ahmad, Dr Asad Moazzam, Faizullah Kamoka, Hasan Murtaza and Raja Riaz were also among those taken into custody on Wednesday, but they have not been produced in any court so far.

Sources said Mr Riaz fled from police custody, but he was again arrested on Saturday.

District Jail Superintendent Yousaf Ghauri said he had received orders for the release of 54 PPP activists, but some of them could not be released because of clerical mistakes in their release orders.

Scores of people thronged the district jail to welcome those released.

Separately, police received orders for the release of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz local leader Safdar Rahman and activist Mustafa Salar.