29 released on bail

SUKKUR, March 29: Twenty-nine Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and five male employees of the National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health were released on bail from a prison here on Tuesday. Their release came after lawyers posted bonds worth Rs25,000 each in an anti-terrorism court. They were arrested during a sit-in by the LHWs, supervisors and drivers on the National Highway at Kammoon Shaheed, Ghotki district, on March 22 in order to stress their demand for regularisation of their services. Abdul Khaliq, a resident of Thull, and advocate Rai Jan Mohammad Mahar of Sadiqabad, who were also arrested along with the protesters, were still in prison because their relatives were unable to reach the court in time to submit bail documents. Bushra Khoso, representing the protesters, told journalists after her release that "our struggle will continue until the government issues a notification about regularisation of our services". "We are ready to go to jail once again for our cause." LAWYER ARRESTED: Rai Jan Mohammad Mahar, the advocate, was arrested by police when he was merely passing through a place where the lady health workers were carrying out their protest, one of his colleagues alleged. Mr Panhwar clarified that Jan Mohammad was not taking part in the sit-in or siding with the agitators in any manner. "He was returning to Sadiqabad, his home town, after pleading a case in Ghotki. Police forcibly pulled him out from his car and booked him along with the protesting LHWs." Mr Panhwar said Mr Mahar's Honda Civic car was still with police, alleging that an official had brought it into his personal use.