LAHORE, Feb 28: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Amir Qazi Husain Ahmad was formally released on Thursday afternoon following acceptance of his bail bonds by Judge Maqbool Mahmood Bajwa of the anti-terrorist court.

The release was delayed on account of rejection of his first bail bonds on the ground that registration deed accompanying the same was old. Fresh bail bonds were then furnished with another registration deed.

As a result, the JI leader could not address the Jamaat workers gathered in the morning at Mansoora to greet him. Instead, JI (Punjab) Amir Hafiz Muhammad Idrees read his message issued from the hospital where he awaited release.

The message stressed need for an organized struggle against oppression in the country after the suspension of political process.

He said unity was the need of the hour, and suggested that the armed forces should return to their primary task of defending the borders.