LAHORE, April 18: Punjab PPP President Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has directed party activists to participate in large numbers in a rally against religious extremism in the city on Thursday (today).

The rally has been organised by the Women’s Action Forum, with invitation to people at large to join it.

The PPP leader said his party was opposed to the menace and wanted it uprooted.

Mr Qureshi also condemned the arrests of his party workers in various cities of Punjab on Wednesday.

He said on the one hand the government was saying it had given a free hand to opposition parties to hold rallies, but on the other it was arresting even the peaceful workers.

According to him, PPP workers had been arrested in Lahore, Pakpattan, Mandi Bahauddin and Rawalpindi. He called for their immediate release.

JAVED HASHMI: PML-N acting president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi says all parties will continue to struggle for the independence of judiciary, and there is no difference of opinion between them on this issue.

In a press statement on Wednesday, he said every party in the opposition should bear in mind that this was not the time for a deal with the government. In fact, he said, this was a time for a strong movement against the rulers.

Mr Hashmi, who is also the ARD president, said no dictator in the past had quit honourably and the incumbent one would be no exception.