SAHIWAL, June 8: Police arrested five more leaders and workers of political parties on Friday raising the number to 18.

Police, however, released Dr Abdul Qadir Lashari in view of his services to the sick.

Those arrested on Friday are; Majlis Ehrar Islam Pakistan central information secretary Maulana Khalid Latif Cheema, Sahiwal tehsil JUI-F president Maulana Manzoor Qasim, Chichawatni JUI-F secretary Qari Talib Husain, Chichawatni PML-N president Rana Sardar Muhammad and Sahiwal city PPP president Ali Nawaz Bhatti.

Sahiwal district MMA president Maulana Ahmad Yar Siddiqui and Harappa MMA president Qari Muhammad Salim have been locked in Gujranwala jail for three months. Fifteen others are still in the custody of the Sahiwal police who have kept them in lock ups of different police stations.

Meanwhile, police on Thursday night conducted raids at the houses of JUI-F leaders Qari Tahir Rashidi, Maulana Abdul Razzaq Mujahid and Hafiz Masood Ahmad but they could not be arrested.

MINISTER’S VISIT: Health Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal visited the DHQ hospital on Thursday night and went round cardiology and neurosurgery wards.