PESHAWAR, Nov 22: The NWFP government on Thursday released political leaders and workers arrested during demonstrations against the proclamation of emergency rule. Those who were released in Peshawar included Pakistan People’s Party provincial chief Rahimdad Khan, its information secretary Arbab Alamgir Khan and Fareed Toofan, Pakistan Muslim League-N provincial president Pir Sabir Shah and its vice-president Mohammad Afzal, Awami National Party leader Bashir Ahmed Bilour, former Senator Syed Aaqil Shah and Jamaat-i-Islami leader Kashif Azam.

Mr Rahimdad, Fareed Toofan, Behramand Tangi, Noor Alam and Israr Khan Naheqi of the PPP had been arrested from outside the Peshawar Press Club when they were going home after addressing a press conference against emergency rule.

Pir Sabir Shah, Mohammad Afzal and other PML-N workers had been arrested during a protest rally at the Hashtnagri Chowk.

ANP leaders and activists had been picked up from the Chowk Yadgar when they were trying to take out a procession.

Advocate Mohammed Khursheed, a PPP activist, who had sprayed black ink on the face of Ahmad Raza Khan Kasuri outside the Supreme Court building in Islamabad, and ANP leader Hasham Khan Babar were among those released from the Haripur Central Jail.

Asif Luqman Qazi, chief of the Nowshera JI, Israr Khan, Noor Alam, Behramand Tangi and Mohim Afridi of the PPP and Zulqarnain of the People’s Youth Organisation were released from the Dera Ismail Khan jail. Liaquat Shabab and Farooq Khan of the PPP and Dilaram Khan and Zamir of the ANP were released from the Nowshera prison.

PPP’s Abdus Samad and Khan Ghawas were released from the Mardan prison and Afsarul Mulk, Humayun Khan and M.A. Bacha from the Malakand jail.