PESHAWAR, Jan 6: Four leaders of a proscribed organization were arrested here on Monday after their pre-arrest bail application was turned down by the court of additional district and sessions judge, Sardar Mohammed Irshad.

The accused, belonging to Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), were charged of taking out a protest procession against the killing of Izharul Haq Jhangvi in Karachi last year.

The accused-applicants, Aslam Farooqi, Mohammed Usman Farooqi, Ismail Darvesh and Saeedur Rehman, were charged in an FIR registered on Nov 28, 2002, at Kabuli police station. The applicants were earlier allowed interim pre-arrest bail and Monday was fixed for its confirmation.

Counsel for the accused argued that the procession was taken out 50 days before the registration of the FIR. He argued that before taking out the procession the applicants had contacted the SHO of Kabuli police station, Khan Raziq, who allowed them to take out the procession.

He argued that the SHO asked the protesters only to march up to Shoba Chowk and as per the understanding reached between the police and the protesters they took out a procession which culminated at the Chowk.

He argued that they had not committed any crime.