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Vice-chairman of the Pakistan People Party (PPP) Makdhoom Amin Fahim, who met Musharraf on Monday and held talks with him on the current political and military situation, told PTI in Islamabad on Tuesday that Hakim Zardari, who was in prison for the past few years in connection with various corruption cases, has been released by officials in Karachi from the jail but kept under house arrest.
Musharraf's meeting with PPP leaders come amid fears of likely political instability in Pakistan due to the current situation, which has caused deep anxiety in the West, specially about the safety of the country's nuclear weapons.
Fahim's meeting with Musharraf is seen as a prelude to easing of curbs on the political leaders to counter the pro-Taleban religious parties, sources said.
Though Fahim declined to divulge the details of his discussions, PPP sources said chances are that a number of party leaders, including Benazir's husband Asif Ali Zardari, who are in prison facing corruption charges, could be released on bail.
While declining to confirm this, Fahim, however, denied reports that Musharraf has agreed to permit Benazir to return from her self exile.
"No such assurances have been given. However, I appealed to Musharraf to permit Benazir to return and release Asif Zardari and other PPP leaders as they have not been convicted by any court," Fahim said.
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