PESHAWAR, July 24: The former provincial chief of the PPP, Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, has said that nobody has the authority to expel him from the party.

Addressing a public meeting on Saturday in his hometown Mardan, Mr Hoti said that he was undeterred by the notice served on him by the party provincial leadership and would continue to spread the message of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto among the masses.

He said that the scheduled public meeting at Chowk Yadgaar by the Peoples' Party Parliamentarians for the release of Asif Ali Zardari on Monday was indicative of the party leadership's weaknesses, because it was a small venue and could not accommodate more people.

Mr Hoti said that he believed in the politics of serving the people according to the philosophy of PPP founder Mr Bhutto, saying that he would follow in the footprints of his late leader till the end of his life. He said that he along with the party workers had rendered big sacrifices for the party and would continue the same in future.

However, he made it clear that he was not bothered by the notices and warnings issued by the present provincial leadership and would serve the masses, in line with the party manifesto.

Mr Hoti said that the Bhutto family had rendered great sacrifices for the cause of democracy and had been opposing the military dictators since long. The party, he said has roots in the masses and nobody has the strength to eliminate it from the hearts of the people.

Mr Hoti said that he would also pray for the release of Asif Ali Zardari.