KARACHI, April 27: Acting PPP secretary-general Raza Rabbani on Saturday did not rule out the possibility of establishing a broad-based politico-religious alliance against the government.

All three major political and religious alliances, including the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, Muttahida Majlis-i-Aml and the Pakistan Oppressed Nations’ Movement, are opposing the government’s steps, he said at a Meet the Press Programme organized by Karachi Press Club on Saturday.

About the return of Benazir Bhutto, he said, “there is no second opinion in the party ranks about her return. She will come back at any cost, most probably after announcement of election schedules by General Pervez Musharraf.”

PPP leaders Rashid Rabbani, Muzaffar Ali Shujra and Habibuddin Junaidi were also present, besides KPC President Sabihuddin Ghousi.

Raza Rabbani contended that the Constitution did not specify any role for the Chief of Army Staff in democratic setup. Even constitutional amendments by Ziaul Haq did not create any place for this post, he asserted.

He said democracy would never flourish if elected institutions were made subservient to national security council. To run a federation effectively, he said, it was incumbent to decide unanimously not to follow whims of any dictator but to pursue parliamentary documentary system.

He charged that the government by violating rules had dragged Nazims and councillors into political matters and created a culture of horse-trading through referendum.—PPI