HYDERABAD, May 10: The provincial secretary information of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Munawar Soharwardi, has claimed that 90 per cent of the Nazims belonging to the PPP had submitted their resignations to the party on the issue of the presidential referendum.

He was speaking at a news conference here on Friday.

He said that in view of the heavy mandate received by these Nazims in the local bodies elections, these resignations were not formally placed before the proper forum.

He said that the PPP would not accept any amendment to the constitution which might prevent Benazir Bhutto from taking part in the general elections.

Referring to various alliances in the past, including the IJI, Soharwardi said that the establishment had forged many alliances against the PPP and had once again created another alliance to block the success of the party in the elections.

Without naming the Pakistan National Alliance, he said that these elements had sold out democracy and the blood of Shaheed Bhutto, betrayed the peoples’ mandate and bargained on the water of Sindh.

He said national integrity was the most important thing for the party and it would fight against all conspiracies to weaken Pakistan.

He pointed out that Gen Pervez Musharraf had spelled out a seven point agenda but the fact was that his only agenda was to perpetuate his illegal rule.

He said no amendment to keep Benazir Bhutto out of the politics would be acceptable and any constitutional amendment in this regard would be challenged in the superior court.

He said to keep Benazir out of elections was tantamount to undermining the unity and solidarity of Pakistan.

Answering a question, Mr Soharwardi said the PPP had allowed its Nazims to receive and bid farewell to the President on his visits for the sake of the integrity of the federation.

He avoided replying a question about the party Nazims’ garlanding the president. He also could not satisfy the journalists on a question whether the party would contest the elections in the absence of Benazir Bhutto.

He dispelled the impression that the acting chairman of the party, Makhdoom Amin Faheem, had met President Gen Pervez Musharraf to discuss any deal. He added that if Gen Pervez Musharraf had withdrawn his utterances against Benezir Bhutto and invited her in the national interest, she would probably have agreed to meet him.

Rejecting the greater Thal canal project, Mr Soharwardi said that his party’s stand was very clear on the point and it had always raised its voice and even protested against the water problem.

The local PPP leaders Zahid Bhurgari, Mirza Ashiq Hussain Baig and others were also present on the occasion.

Soharwardi also spoke at the corner meetings in connection with meet the people campaign.