PPP workers face terrorism charges

Published April 20, 2005

LAHORE, April 19: About 750 People’s Party workers, mostly belonging to Sindh, were not released even after they were allowed bail because the local police charged them afresh with offences of terrorism. About 1,000 PPP workers were allowed bail by judicial magistrates of the city on Monday but when the People’s Lawyers Forum leaders approached the courts for the submission of bail bonds on Tuesday, they were told that they could not be released as they were booked under section 7 of the Anti-Terrorist Ordinance and had to stand trial by the ATCs.

According to PLF leader advocate Aamer Hashmi, about 75 per cent of the PPP workers belonged to Sindh. They came to Lahore on April 15 and 16 and were arrested. They were charged with the offence under section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance and were detained for a period of 90 days. Former Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, MNA Naheed Khan and Senator Farooq A Naik remained present in the local courts for most part of the day.