November 20, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 09, 1428

FAISALABAD, Nov 19: A local court granted bail to six former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs) on Monday. They were, however, not released till the filing of the report.

Police arrested PPP Faisalabad Divisional Coordinator Raja Riaz, city secretary-general Dr Asad Moazzam, Faizullah Kamoka and Hassan Murtaza on Nov 14 when they were trying to join their party’s long march against the imposition of emergency.

They were arrested by Ghulam Mohammadabad police under section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order and dispatched to the district jail. PPP Punjab President Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also taken into custody after a press conference at the divisional office. He was shifted to Lahore.

At least 50 PPP workers were released on bail from the district jail on Saturday. Sources said despite court orders, police had not released former MPAs, as the Punjab government had not signalled the jail authorities to discharge them. Also, seven detained people, six from the PPP and one from the JI, were released from the district jail. Those released are: Umer Daraz, Sumair Masih, Bashir Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shabir Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed and JI activist Ghulam Jilani.—Staff Correspondent