BAHAWALPUR, April 28: Punjab PPP president Qasim Zia has held the president responsible for the current 'disastrous' situation which, he claimed, had rendered parliamentary elections inevitable.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday after meeting party workers, Mr Zia claimed that the year 2004 would be the election year, and called upon workers to prepare for the elections. He said PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto would return to the country before the elections.

He said that due to government's anti-people policies, the common man was fed up with the government. He claimed that both federal and provincial governments had failed to deliver.

Replying to a question, the Punjab PPP president criticized district Nazim Tariq Cheema and his associates for deserting the party. He said Mr Cheema and his companions had left the party due to government pressure. He said turncoats like Tariq Cheema and others would never be allowed to come back to the party fold. Mr Zia alleged that Mr Cheema had changed his loyalties to hide his corruption.

He told another questioner that the PPP would field its candidate for the provincial assembly by-election in Yazman tehsil on a seat vacated by Dr Muhammad Afzal, a PPP deserter. He said that Yazman tehsil PPP would be reorganized.

Talking about the April 2 incident, Mr Zia said it was the result of a misunderstanding. He said all workers had taken oath at a meeting that they would remain loyal to the party and Ms Bhutto.

He said that party office-bearers, who had been suspended for violating party discipline, had their cases reviewed by a committee of four stalwarts, which sent its recommendations to the party chairperson.