Mr. Javed Hashmi, a parliamentarian and acting President of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz, was released from Central Jail Kotlakhpat, Lahore on 4 August 2007, on a personal surety bond of PRs50,000 (US$833) on the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Mr. Hashmi was arrested in 2003 for distributing a letter carrying a General Headquarters logo and containing inciting comments against the army during a news conference, and was given a 23-year prison sentence. His appeal was subsequently dismissed in 2005.

Political parties in opposition have demanded the Production Orders of Mr. Hashmi to make it possible for him to participate in national assembly sessions, which was rejected citing the case’s relation to the Army. The Government also barred the national assembly speaker to issue the Production Order.

In solidarity with Mr. Javed Hashmi and other opposition detainees, Hotline Asia issued UA040225(4) in February 2004 highlighting arbitrary arrest and torture of dissidents and political opponents in Pakistan and to urge for protection of freedom of expression, association and assembly as guaranteed under the Pakistan constitution.

Source:
The News (local newspaper)
Daily Times (local newspaper)source

Opposition Party leader, Mr. Javed Hashmi, who was arrested since October 2003 for allegedly defaming the Pakistan army, is still in solitary confinement in Adyala prison, without court order, which is a violation of the Pakistani Penal Code. His appeal against the sentence of 23 years imprisonment filed on 24 April 2004 is still pending. His bail application was reportedly not registered and was eventually dismissed after a short hearing on 24 February 2005.

Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, former federal minister and the husband of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who has been kept in jail since 1996 with no cases proved after more than 7 years of trial, was released on bail in December 2004. After his release, there were reports of his re-arrested and release, as well as how the government retrained his political activities by arresting political workers and ordinary citizens including women and children for welcoming him from his trip on 16 April 2005.

ACPP-Hotline Asia issued UA040225(4) in February 2004 drawing attention to Mr. Hashmi's case. Among the request was to ensure that detainees are treated in accordance with international human rights standards that the government's politically-motivated arrests are stopped.

Source:
Local source

Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, the former federal minister and the husband of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was re-arrested on 21 December 2004 for failing to appear at a murder trial. He was arrested at Islamabad airport on his arrival from Karachi. He was later released on bail on 22 December 2004.

Mr. Zaradari, who holds no formal position in the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), had planned his trip to Islamabad to rally support for it. He viewed that the hand of the government is behind the incident and that everybody should have the freedom of expression and movement.

Hotline Asia issued UA040225(4) to call for better treatment of opposition figures who exercise their freedom of expression in Pakistan.

Source:
South China Morning Post

Opposition party leader, Mr. Javed Hashmi is still under detention in Adyala Jail in Rawalpindi. His case is pending in the High court - Rawalpindi bench.

Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, the former federal minister and the husband of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was released on bail on Monday, 22 November 2004. The Bhutto family reportedly paid one million rupee for the bail. Asif Ali Zardari was booked under 13 different cases and his bail was accepted in 12 of them. On the day he was released, Supreme Court of Pakistan accepted his bail plea in the 13th case, and he was released after that.

In view of the treatment of detainees of politically-motivated arrests, Hotline Asia issued UA040225(4) to urge the Pakistani authorities, to stop such arrests and protect the freedom of expression guaranteed under the constitution, as part of a democratic culture.

Source:
Local Source

He faces accusation from The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), for illegally acquiring Rs 38 million (USD760,000) during his time as member of National Assembly (MNA) and federal minister from 1985 to 1999. He is still jailed at Rawalpindi and was not allowed to go to Lahore for the proceedings. The proceedings were delayed until 27 July 2004.

In view of the apparent politically-motivated arrests, Hotline Asia issued UA040225(4) to urge the Pakistani authorities, to stop such arrests and protect the freedom of expression guaranteed under the constitution, as part of a democratic culture.

Source:
Hotline Pakistan
Daily Times (Pakistan)

Mr. Javed Hashmi, the acting President of Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and the head of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, was arrested in October 2003.

On 12 April 2004 he was sentenced to 23 years imprisonment on charges of defamation of the Government (Section 124-A of the Penal Code), incitement to mutiny (Section 131), forgery (Sections 468, 469, and 471), defamation of the Army (Section 505-A). The court also imposed a fine of Rs 42,000 and ruled that Mr. Hashmi would serve an additional eight-month jail term if he failed to pay the amount. It was reported that only the Government press and Mr. Hashmis's daughter were allowed in the courtroom when the judgment was handed down. On 25 April 2004, Mr. Javed Hashmi, appealed against his 23-year sentence in the Lahore High Court.

After hearing the judgment, a large crowd of PML-N activists, who were gathered at the court premises in Rawalpindi, shouted anti-government slogans. Terming the judgment against Hashmi as "subversion of justice," senior PML-N leader, Qaza Rafiq, said that the party would appeal against the judgment and hold rallies and meetings all over the country to oppose it.

Hotline Asia issued an UA040225(4) for better treatment of opposition figures who exercise their freedom of expression in Pakistan.

Source:
The Dawn, NDTV News, Hotline Pakistan