KARACHI, Nov 8: National Party’s secretary-general Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, arrested on Monday from outside the Karachi Press Club while he was attending a rally against imposition of emergency, was remanded in judicial custody on Thursday.

He was sent to Karachi Central Jail along with the party’s provincial information secretary Ayub Qureshi and Yusuf Mustikhan and trade union leaders Fareed Awan and Liaquat Sahi.

The leaders face sedition charges under Sections 124-A, 147 and 149/34.

Talking to newsmen at the City Courts, Mr Bizenjo supported the call for long march given by Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

He called upon all the democratic forces to unite on a platform to rid the country of the dictatorial regime of Gen Pervez Musharraf.

AP adds: The detainees had been charged with treason for making anti-government speeches, a court official said.

They were the first to be reported charged with treason, which carries a maximum sentence of death, since President Musharraf declared a state of emergency on Saturday.

They were arrested on Monday and interrogated by police before being formally charged on Wednesday, said the official.