ISLAMABAD, April 28: The jailed leader of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari, has said that police officers, who took part in the operation clean-up against "terrorists" in Karachi in 1992, are being targeted in Sindh under a planned move.

Talking to reporters after appearing in an accountability court in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, the PPP leader alleged that the party against which the operation had been launched in 1992 was behind the recent attacks on the police officers in Karachi.

Mr Zardari expressed concern over the "poor law and order situation" in Sindh and said if situation remained the same, then it would be harmful for the country's "integrity." He said the government had failed to control law and order situation in the province where even rockets were being fired on various sugar mills.

About the recent decision of reduction in troops, the PPP leader said it would make no difference. He claimed that there would be no reduction in the defence expenditure after the implementation of the decision, which had been made only to befool the people.

Mr Zardari said the PPP would welcome PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif when he would return to the country. If the Pakistani or the Saudi government created hurdles in the return of Mr Sharif then the party would lodge a strong protest, he added.

In reply to a question, he said the parties included in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) could contest the next general elections from one platform. He said the PPP was ready to establish its offices in tribal areas where there was a great need of creating political awareness among the people.

Replying to another question, Mr Zardari said despite the fact that the United Nations had not made any request, the government had been announcing that it was ready to send troops to Iraq under the UN umbrella. Moreover, he said, the army would play the same role in Iraq which it had played in Wana.

Responding to Gen Musharraf's remarks about the presence of corrupt people in the government, the PPP leader said Gen Musharraf had no right to call any person corrupt, as he himself had acquired power at gunpoint. Gen Musharraf was not in a position to raise fingers on others, Mr Zardari said.

Mr Zardari, the spouse of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, said he had been waging a struggle, launched by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The PPP leader said that he and Ms Bhutto were preparing their son Bilawal to meet the possible future challenges.

He criticized those who were advising Ms Bhutto to return to the country to face cases against her. He said how could Ms Bhutto expect getting justice in the country where her husband had been languishing in jail for the past eight years.