Islamabad, Oct 30: 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 close lieutenant of deposed prime minister 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 the local media alleging that policemen slapped his driver before arresting the two and taking them to an unknown destination.

The official news agency, quoting a press note issued by the District Magistrate Islamabad said that 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 viz a viz Pakistan army, has maligned army personnel and attempted to incite them for mutiny," it said. Bureau Report