Najam Sethi released

ISLAMABAD, June 2 (AP) — Nearly one month after he was arrested in a nightime raid on his home, the government today dropped the charges and freed prominent journalist Najam Sethi, his lawyer and family said.

"This is a vindication for Najam Sethi and a vindication for the independent Pakistani Press," said his wife Jugnoo Mohsin. "I knew, his friends knew and the people of Pakistan knew that this was a way to silence his brave and uncompromising voice.... but it failed", she said.

Mr Sethi was arrested on May 8 when the police stormed his home in the eastern Punjab capital of Lahore after 2 a.m. local time, locked his wife in the bathroom, put him in chains and dragged him away.

He was charged with anti-state activities in connection with a speech he made earlier this year in neighbouring India criticising the government.

Today, the Attorney-General, Chaudhry Mohammed Farooq, said the government had decided to drop the charges against Mr Sethi, according to Mr Sethi’s lawyer, Mr Khalid Ranjha.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the government to drop the charges. However, earlier the army and intelligence agency said there was no evidence to substantiate a charge of anti-state activities.

International journalists organisations, human rights groups, as well as the US State Department and the European Union expressed concern that the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was trying to intimidate the free Press in Pakistan.

Mr Sethi’s arrest was one of several incidents involving Pakistani journalists, who have been harassed, intimidated and detained by the government, some because they assisted a British Broadcasting Corp, television team, others because of their critical writing.

Mr Hussain Haqqani, an Opposition politician and columnist, also is in police custody charged with corruption. He was arrested after a column of his appeared condemning a new law trying to restrict public rallies.

"Najam Sethi has been soundly vindicated", said Ms Mohsin.