Saturday, April 16 2005 13:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was whisked away by the police to his home immediately after he flew in from Dubai as hundreds of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) activists clashed with security forces at the Lahore airport in an attempt to meet their leader.

The airport was sealed off after the Government issued a red alert last night (Apr 15, 2005) saying there was a terrorist threat.

Outside the airport police prevented any public movement and took into custody a number of PPP leaders including Makhdum Amin Fahim, who tried to gather there to welcome Zardari.

PPP headquarters in Islamabad said over 15,000 PPP cadres have been taken into custody all over the country.

However, Pakistan Information Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed denied reports that Zardari and other PPP leaders were arrested. "Zardari was not handcuffed neither he was arrested."

Zardari was taken to his house by the police and left there, he said while complementing the police and the provincial Punjab Government for preventing violent demonstrations during Zardari's arrival.

Questioning the description of Zardari as Mandela by his party, Rashid likened him to Marcos, the disgraced leader of Philippines.

Television channel reporters, who were travelling along with Zardari on his return to the country after a two-month reunion with his wife and children, reported that police entered the plane as soon as it landed at 06:30 hrs (local time), roughed up several journalists travelling with him and drove Zardari to his residence Bilawal House in the city.

Zardari, who went to Dubai two months ago to meet his wife and children following his release after eight years imprisonment, told reporters outside his house in Lahore, "I condemn the arrest of my supporters and demand their release."

"By not allowing me to hold a peaceful rally, the Government has showed there is no democracy. We have a fascist Government here and out struggle for restoration of real democracy will continue," he said.

Zardari earlier planned to arrive by a chartered flight but later changed his plans as the plane was denied permission and arrived by regular flight along with several top leaders of the party as well as team of Pakistani journalists.

Some of the journalist accompanying him said over TV channels in Islamabad that they too were roughed up while covering the arrest of Zardari. "It is a scene I can not describe. Never have been journalists so badly treated, insulted and roughed up in this fashion. The film rolls of photographers and mobiles of reporters were snatched and the television crews were prevented from filming the event," a journalist of ARY TV accompanying Zardari reported.

The PPP had wanted to give a rousing reception to Zardari as part of its plans to project him as its leader as Bhutto has not made any definite plans to return fearing arrest in connection with cases against her.