HYDERABAD, Nov 17: A large number of PML(N) activists held a protest demonstration from the District Council party office to the Hyderabad Press Club on Monday against the arrest of the party president, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi.

Carrying banners and placards, they raised slogans against the government.

Addressing the rally, the provincial president of the party, Imdad Chandio; women wing president, Soorath Thebo; former Sindh governor Mamnoon Hussain, the district president, A. Bux Magsi, and others condemned Mr Hashmi’s arrest.

They said that the only crime of Mr Hashmi was that he was struggling for the restoration of democracy in the country and he had exposed the misdeeds of the rulers.

They said that a false case was registered against Mr Hashmi as he was a great hurdle in the path of the military rulers who wanted to perpetuate their illegal rule.

They said that the masses were still behind Nawaz Sharif and the excesses unleashed by the rulers could not change the loyalties of PML(N) leaders and workers.

They said those who were branding Mr Hashmi a traitor were themselves traitors as they were holding the nation hostage.

They warned if Mr Hashmi was not released before Eid, the PML(N) would launch a struggle throughout the province to oust the illegal regime.

PPP: On the call of PPP Sindh Council member Jam Saqi, a large number of people, including peasants, staged a protest sit-in and formed a human chain from the press club to the Radio Pakistan here on Sunday.