NOWSHERA, June 17: Former interior minister and Pakistan People’s Party leader Naseerullah Khan Babar on Sunday warned the government and its secret agencies not to harass PPP workers.

Speaking at a gathering at Pir Piai village, Mr Babar alleged that the secret agencies, in connivance with former president Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari and former chief minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, were pressuring PPP workers to change their loyalties.

He announced that he would contest the elections for the national assembly seat NA-5, Nowshera-I, and Mian Yahya Shah would contest for the provincial assembly seat. “I have convened the meeting of village elders to seek their consent on the issue,” he said.

He warned the officials of the secret agencies to stop their blackmailing tactics and said otherwise he would release the names of all such agents and corrupt politicians to the press.

Mr Babar said the people were wise enough to differentiate between the corrupt and clean politicians. “Our hands are clean and people know it. We do not believe in secret deal with the government,” he said.

He said government had initiated political victimisation in the name of accountability.  

Those who were involved in the Mehran Bank scam were moving freely and the government was providing them protection, he said.

He said the corrupt politicians who had sought a clean chit from the accountability courts would have to face the people’s verdict in the elections.

The PPP leader demanded measures for making the general elections free and fair and replacement of the chief election commissioner, who, according to him, had lost the confidence of the people.

Mr Babar said: “The uncertain situation on the borders demands that the government should hold free and fair elections. It is not a time for palace intrigues and political victimisation being unleashed against opposition forces.”