Pak. police release detained ARD leaders

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

LAHORE, MARCH 25. The detained leaders of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), who made a vain attempt on Friday to hold a public rally in the city, were released by the police here.

According to the police, minor cases of stone-pelting on the police and obstruction to public servants on duty were registered against some two-dozen leaders of the Alliance.

The Punjab authorities appear to have decided in favour of the immediate release of the detained leaders in view of the general perception that their ``over reaction'' has actually proved to be a boon to the organisers.

The general consensus is that left to themselves the organisers would not have succeeded in mobilising even a few thousand people from across the country for the much publicised protest demonstration seeking an end to the military rule.

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Section  : International
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