Pakistan Police has arrested the president of the 15-party Alliance for Restoration of Democracy Javed Hashmi for allegedly releasing an anonymous letter purportedly written by Army officials criticising President Pervez Musharraf’s leadership and charged him with inciting the armed forces against the government. Hashmi, a lieutenant of deposed PM Nawaz Sharif and a fire brand leader of his Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) was arrested along with his driver here last night by police and intelligence agencies when he was coming out of the Parliament lodges. ‘‘Javed Hashmi wanted to come out of Parliament lodges but both entry and exit gates were closed,’’ a PML (N) spokesman told local media. The official APP news agency, quoting a press note issued by the Islamabad District Magistrate said Hashmi was arrested for releasing a letter claiming to have been written by Army personnel calling for trial of top Army officials for subverting democracy in the country. ‘‘Javed Hashmi has tried in the letter to support India vis-a-vis Pakistan Army, has maligned Army personnel and attempted to incite them for mutiny,’’ it said. APP quoted a government release as saying that Hashmi has been arrested and an FIR was registered against him based on a complaint by one Khursheed Ahmed. Hashmi was charged under various sections which included incitement of armed forces to rebel against the government. Hashmi had released the anonymous letter on October 20 claiming that he received it from men in uniform who did not want to be identified. The letter though unsigned, purported to be on the letterhead of the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army. (PTI)
