06 October 2004	Wednesday	20 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Oct 5: Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday declared that one person could not hold the posts of president and the chief of the army staff and claimed that those who were advocating that were inciting a revolt against constitutional rule.

The participants of the seminar on Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, organized by the Karachi chapter of the Pakistan People's Party, also deplored Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and termed the United States an enemy of Pakistan.

PPP Deputy Secretary General Senator Raza Rabbani maintained that even under the 17th Amendment to the constitution, the offices of the president and the COAS could not be vested in one person after Dec 31.

He said the assemblies which had supported retention of both the posts by President Gen Pervez Musharraf were indulging in revolt against the constitution. Reaffirming adherence to the ideals of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mr Rabbani alleged that the PPP's founder was murdered at the behest of the US. If there was an enemy of the Muslim world, it was the US, he said.

He deplored Israel's aggression against the Palestinians and said the Zionists were carrying out their actions with the blessing of the US. He recalled fraternal relations between Mr Bhutto and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and reaffirmed his party's support for the Palestinian cause.

The PPP leader said those who had deserted the party would never be taken back in it. Even those ho were advocating their return would be dealt with, he said. Sindh PPP President Syed Qaim Ali Shah said the slogan of 'roti, kapra aur makan' was still valid because the regime had filed to provide jobs to people and the jobless were being forced to commit suicide.

He claimed that Mr Bhutto had been asked by the military to take over as the chief martial law administrator and the politicians of the time, including Awami National Party leader Wali Khan had said that he could rule through martial law for six months to formulate a constitution.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leader Prof Ghafoor Ahmad termed Mr Bhutto a great democrat who, despite having a majority, negotiated with the opposition for a year while framing the constitution.

He said the opposition, which enjoyed 44 per cent representation in the assemblies, was not being allowed to play its role in legislative matters. Former minister Mairaj Mohammad Khan said Mr Bhutto was a strong-nerved man and asked the PPP to follow his ideals. He said the former prime minister's friends collaborated in his elimination.

He termed the Simla Agreement and the 1973 Constitution the biggest achievements of Mr Bhutto. The Simla Agreement contained all options for a possible solution of the Kashmir problem, he said.

Former Sindh High Court justice Rashid A. Rizvi said the 1973 Constitution was the biggest achievement of Mr Bhutto as that provided protection to individual and collective human rights. In this context he cited the Article 3 of the constitution.

He said that according to Articles 41 and 43 of the constitution, one person could not hold the posts of president and the COAS. PPP Information Secretary Taj Haider said Mr Bhutto emancipated the poor and gave them voice, making them the base of power.

PPP Karachi Division President Rashid Rabbani vowed to struggle for the rights of the people in accordance with the ideals of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhuttoo.