BAHAWALPUR, Sept 3: Lo-cal Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers and leaders have decided to accord a warm welcome to Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif who are ending their exile and arriving in Islamabad on Sept 10.

This was decided in a PML-N convention held at the residence of MPA Malik Muhammed Iqbal Channar here on Monday.

Ex-MNA Chaudhry Mumtaz Ahmed Jajja chaired the convention addressed by MNA Makhdoom Syed Ali Gilani, a former parliamentary secretary who recently joined the party after quitting the ruling PML, MPAs Malik Muhammed Iqbal Channar and Chaudhry Shafiq Ahmed, Samiullah Chaudhry, Saood Majid Chaudhry and others.

They criticised the government and ruling PML leadership, which, they said, was responsible for the prevailing political crisis in the country.

They demanded holding free, fair and transparent elections and tendering resignation by President General Pervez Musharraf. They also demanded check on prices.

Samiullah Chaudhry, the coordinator of the preparations, said at least 3,000 workers would reach Islamabad to welcome their party leaders on Sept 10.

LOOTED: The fine collection van of National Highway & Motorway Police (NH&MP) was looted near Adam Wahan, about 10 kilometres away from here, on Sunday night.

According to reports, three armed outlaws snatched Rs150,000 from the staff of the fine collection van in vicinity of the NH&MP check post in Lodhran police precincts. Later, the NH&MP personnel reached the spot and allegedly remained indifferent saying the van belonged to a private company.