Pak opposition leader release due

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A supporter of a jailed Pakistani politician Javed Hashmi (unseen), waits for Hashmi's release outside the Kot Lakpat jail with sweets in Lahore Friday.

LAHORE, Aug 4 (AP): Supporters of a top Pakistani opposition leader gathered outside a prison Saturday to wait for his release on bail from a 23-year sentence for inciting army mutiny against military President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
Javed Hashmi's release strengthens the hand of pro-democracy forces who now pose a serious challenge to a weakened Musharraf as Pakistan heads toward crucial elections and the president seeks a new five-year term.
Hasmi, the acting president of the party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was imprisoned in 2004 on treason and mutiny charges that rights and opposition groups alleged were politically motivated.
The Supreme Court granted Hashmi bail of $800 Friday while it considers his application for the case to be reviewed.