OKARA, April 25: The MMA has said the NWFP government will not arrest Mian Shahbaz Sharif if he does land at the Peshawar Airport. This was stated by MNA and JUI-F senior vice-president Maulana Fiazur Rehman Alvi on Sunday at the residence of party's district secretary-general Haji Ihsanul Haq. Provincial president of the party Maulana Abdullah and Naib Amir Maulana Amir Hussain Gilani were also present.

Maulana Alvi said the MMA wanted Shahbaz Sharif to return to the country and play his role in politics. He said airports were under the control of the federal government and if he was not deported, the MMA would welcome him. "Since there is no case against him in the NWFP, we will not arrest him."

To a query, Alvi said consensus had almost been reached on the NFC Award among the provinces, so "we have demanded of the federal government Rs22 billion as electricity royalty instead of Rs6 billion."

Laid to rest: The PPP former senior vice-president and labour leader, Rao Muhammad Hanif, was laid to rest in the Siddiqnagar Graveyard near Octroi Post No 6 on the GT Road. His funeral was also attended by former district Ushr & Zakat chairman Khan Ghias Muhammad Khan and PPP city secretary-general Anees Khan Baloch.