KARACHI, Jan 20: Himmat Ali Almani, father of Shaista Almani, said on Tuesday that his family was feeling secured and protected now and they would return home that evening.

Talking to newsmen at the Civil Lines women's police station, he said he was thankful to President Musharraf, Governor Ibad, Sindh Minister Imtiaz Shaikh and police including DIG Operation Tariq Jamil, for providing protection to his family.

Himmat Ali has been at the Civil Lines police station for a week, along with his wife, four daughters and three sons. He said he did not feel threatened and would go back to his home town in Pannoo Aqil as his sons were studying in schools. "We do not have enmity with any body, nor do we feel threatened", he said.

However, he expressed displeasure on what he called the "over-publicity" of the case of her daughter in the media. He accused the media of creating a hype in her daughter's case saying that it was blown out of proportion.

Himmat Almani, who was flanked by two of his sons, Sajjad and Zubair, asked photojournalists not to take his photos as "me and my family have already had enough publicity".

Soon after her left the room with his sons saying he did not want to talk to the press, Shaista Almani also refused to talk to the media despite requests by DIG Operations Tariq Jamil.

Talking to newsmen the DIG said that Himmat Ali wanted to go to his village in Pannoo Aqil. "He and his family are free to go home if they desire. Police will provide them protection wherever they go", Jamil said and added that the Sindh High Court had ordered police to provide protection to Shaista Almani and her family and it was the duty of the department to follow the orders. The DIG further said that Shaista wanted to take up her new job at the Social Welfare Department and wanted to stay in the city.-APP