Islamabad:Students of a radical seminary in central Islamabad protested outside the residence of Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, and sought the release of Lal Masjid's former cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz.

Dozens of female students of Jamia Hafsa protested outside the house of Zardari, and sought the release of the radical cleric, who was arrested during a major security operation against Islamist militants holed up inside the Lal Masjid complex last year.

Led by human rights activist Khalid Khawaja, the students carried placards and banners with slogans against President Pervez Musharraf, and called for the immediate release of Maulana Aziz, the Daily Times newspaper said today.

The security around Zardari House had been beefed up ahead of the protest. Khawaja went to Zardari House but failed to meet the PPP leader. They handed over their demands to party officials, the report said.

The students demanded the reconstruction of Jamia Hafsa, the seminary in the Lal Masjid complex, in accordance with the judgment of Pakistan Supreme Court.

The angry students agreed to end their protest after PPP leaders Fauzia Wahab and Zamurd Khan assured them that their demands would be conveyed to the co-chairman, the report said.

Meanwhile, the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) yesterday ordered the return of seized jewellery, cash and other items to the wife and daughter of the former chief cleric of the Lal Masjid.

The security forces had seized these items when the top cleric was arrested from the mosque last year. Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman directed the police to submit a report on implementation of the order, the daily reported.

Source : PTI