May 22, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

MUZAFFARABAD, May 21: Political tension was said to be mounting in Neelum valley where police had arrested 10 more local activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), raising the total number of detainees from the Karachi-based party to 27 over the past four days, an MQM lawmaker said here on Wednesday.

MLA Tahir Khokhar told Dawn that the fresh arrests were made by the police on Wednesday in the town of Sharda allegedly under the pressure of ruling Muslim Conference leaders, including an incumbent adviser and a former minister “who felt threatened by the enthusiasm of local people to join the MQM”.

“The police are raiding the houses of all those who they suspect have any association with or liking for our party. They are harassing, intimidating and making unlawful arrests of our supporters,” he alleged.

Sharda is located around 140 kilometres north-east of Muzaffarabad but it takes more than six hours to reach the town due to the dilapidated condition of Neelum valley road. Ironically, the town is completely inaccessible by any telecommunication network.