On 7 July 2000, AFP reported that the police had arrested "scores of supporters" of the PML in a pre-dawn sweep. In the "biggest crackdown on politicians since the coup in October," PML leaders claimed that as many as 300 people had been "dragged from their homes," and the police in Lahore stated that they had arrested "up to 165 members" (ibid.; Channel News Asia 8 July 2000). According to the report, officials in Punjab declared that the arrests were carried out to "convey a strong message that political activity was outlawed" and stop the wife of Nawaz Sharif, Kulsoom Nawaz, from leading a procession from Lahore to Peshawar on Saturday [8 July] (AFP 7 July 2000). AFP also reported that PML activists and provincial leaders had gone into hiding (ibid.).

On 8 July 2000, Kulsoom Nawaz was detained in her car by police in Lahore after running through a police road block outside of her home (AFP 8 July 2000; Channel News Asia 8 July 2000). AFP reported that the stand-off lasted 10 hours after which Kulsoom was escorted home by police (9 July 2000). According to AFP, following the stand-off, police continued to surround her home and blocked her driveway (ibid.). On 10 July 2000, AFP reported that three senior PML leaders who had been with Kulsoom when she drove her car through the police cordon were taken into custody as they emerged from Kulsoom's house.

On Sunday 9 July 2000, police raided a PML meeting in Rawalpindi and arrested leaders and supporters (AFP 9 July 2000; Dawn 10 July 2000; NNI 10 July 2000).

On 11 July 2000, Dawn reported that "as many as 73 PML activists" were released in Sheikhupura after they had agreed in writing to not participate in any political rallies in the future. Eight of those detained refused to agree to such conditions and remained in the jail (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 10 July 2000. "Three Top Sharif Party Leaders Offer Arrests." (NEXIS)

_____. 9 July 2000. "Ex-PMs Wife Under Siege as Pakistan Junta Turns Screws on PML." (NEXIS)

_____. 8 July 2000. "Ousted Pakistani PM's Lawyer Challenges Kulsoom's Arrest." (NEXIS)

_____. 7 July 2000. "Pakistani Police Detain Up to 300 Sharif Party Members." (NEXIS)

Channel News Asia. 8 July 2000. "Ex-Pakistani PM's Wife Held After Driving Through Police Cordon." (NEXIS)

Dawn [Karachi]. 11 July 2000. "73 PML Men Freed in Sheikhupura." http://dawn.com [Accessed 11 July 2000]

_____. 10 July 2000. "29 PML Workers Arrested." http://dawn.com [Accessed 10 July 2000]

News Network International (NNI) [Islamabad]. 10 July 2000. "70 PML Activists Arrested in Rawalpindi." http://www.nni.new-news.com/ [Accessed 10 July 2000]

IRB Databases

Pakistan Country File. Resource Centre.

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet Sites including:

Amnesty International

The Herald [Karachi]. January - August 2000.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)

Human Rights Watch

Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), Home Office, UK. April 2000. Pakistan Assessment.

South Asia Human Rights and Documentation Centre (SAHRDC)