HYDERABAD, June 21: Pakistan People’s Party leaders here on Saturday vowed that they were ready to go to jail for the rights of the people, accusing the rulers of preventing Benazir Bhutto from returning to the country.

They were speaking at a function organized at the local press club to celebrate the golden jubilee birthday of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

Speaking on the occasion, MPA Syed Qaim Ali Shah paid tribute to Benazir Bhutto and her late father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for their services for the country. He claimed that it was due to political acumen of Benazir Bhutto that US President Bill Clinton conceded the injustice of not refunding the money given to make a purchase of F-16 planes.

He said that the PPP chairperson managed to get half of the money refunded and added that not only the people of Pakistan but the entire world today needed Benazir Bhutto because of her political acumen and vision. He maintained today the Indian premier wanted to hold dialogue with Pakistan in the light of the Shimla Agreement of 1971.

MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur said Benazir Bhutto had no parallel in politics and that golden jubilee celebration should mark the day of bringing Benazir Bhutto back to the country.

He fulminated the government for spending millions of rupees for tarnishing the image of Ms Bhutto abroad. He lashed out at the Punjab irrigation minister, Amir Sultan Cheema, for branding the anti-Thal canal people as the Indian agents.

Mr Talpur said that if such tactics were not stopped then the people of Sindh would become rebels. We would raise voice for Sindh’s interests in parliament and on roads, he declared. He blamed the anti-Sindh lobby for not letting Benazir Bhutto return to the country.

Prof N.D. Khan spoke very high of Benazir Bhutto on the ground that she was a lady of international stature and there were few people around who were acknowledged as the great leaders the world over.

He claimed that Benazir Bhutto was the first who had talked about curbing international terrorism. He said that today a man like Z.A. Bhutto was needed to hold negotiations with India because the government would not succeed in talks.

He said PPP leadership was busy in fighting against the LFO inside and outside parliament because it negated democracy, supremacy of parliament, rights of people and independence of judiciary.

He said water was a matter of life and death for the people of Sindh. If the greater Thal canal was constructed it would render agricultural lands of the province barren, he observed. He said that nationalist parties had also joined the anti-greater Thal canal after it was initiated by the PPP.

PPP leader Maula Bux Chandio called upon the workers to iron out their differences saying all problems would be solved once Benazir Bhutto returned to the country. He added that those who were engaged in the construction of greater Thal canal were in fact agents of the Indian lobby. He urged party workers to strengthen the party.

MNA Shagufta Jumani said that her party would not retreat from its pro-Sindh stance as the party workers were used to whipping and imprisonments. She feared the greater Thal canal would destroy Sindh and the rulers would not let Ms Bhutto to return as she might lead the anti-Thal Canal struggle.

Shah Mohammad Shah, Haji Ameen Lakho and others also spoke on the occasion. A birthday cake was also cut.