LAHORE: Nineteen of the 21 Opposition leaders, who were detaine d under the Defence of Pakist an Rules early this year, have been released, it was officially announced here today [Oct 11].

The announcement said some political workers had been detained under the Defence of Pakistan Rules earlier this year, because a specific law and order situation had been created in the Province which warranted deterrent action under the law.

The President had directed the Governor of West Pakistan, Mr Mohammad Musa, to re-assess the situation in the Province, with a view to examining whether their further detention was necessary.

After re-assessing the situation, it added, the Governor has reviewed the cases of the political detenus and come to the conclusion that further detention of these persons was not required. He, therefore, has ordered that the detention orders against them should be withdrawn immediately.

Four of the detenus, Mian Manzar Bashir, Mr Sil(andar Hayat, Chaudhri Kalimuddin and Mr Abu Saeed Anwar, were under medical treatment at the Mayo Hospital here.

The three detenus, who have not been released are Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and Malik Ghulam Gilani. Agencies [Meanwhile, as reported by our Special Representative from Rawalpindi,] firing stopped on the Sialkot-Jammu border at 12-30 p.m. today following a meeting between Pakistani and Indian sector Commanders. The meeting took place early this morning.

Sub-sector Commanders, it is learnt, are meeting tomorrow to take necessary measures to avoid a recurrence of the incident.

Earlier, the Indian security forces were beaten back when they attacked a West Pakistan Rangers` post well inside Pakistani territory.

Firing started on Sunday when Indian border security forces tried to interfere with the patrolling of the Rangers.

The Indian security forces, it is learnt, without any reason or provocation, insisted that the Rangers should not patrol the area located about 200 yards south-east of Chak Salarsian a village on the Sialkot-Jammu border.