06 November 2004	Saturday	22 Ramazan 1425

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KARACHI, Nov 5: Asif Ali Zardari, the interned husband of Ms Benazir Bhutto, said on Friday that his eight years detention had exposed the establishment's malafied intentions, and the dictatorial approach of the regime.

Mr Zardari was speaking informally to newsmen in the Central Jail, where he was brought in connection with the container case. "I am grateful to Allah for giving me the courage to withstand all sorts of torture and inducements and not compromising interest of the people of Pakistan for the sake of personal freedom," said Asif Zardari, who was of the view that his "sacrifice" had strengthened the struggle of the Pakistan People's Party and that of the other democratic forces in the country.

Mr Zardari, who was arrested on the night between 4th and 5th Nov 1996, had in fact served more than two life terms, without conviction, if various remissions of 8,024 days (22 years), which he could claim under the Pakistan Prison Rules' chapter eight, were counted, said his lawyer Shahadat Awan.

Mr Zardari stressed the need for drastic changes in the system, especially the judiciary. He said that when he could be in such a mess, what would be the magnitude of the sufferings of the common man due to the prevailing exploitative system. He claimed that resistance against the establishment was mounting and the anti-democratic forces would soon meet their Waterloo.

A shrewd political tactician, Mr Zardari claimed that the establishment was afraid of the popularity of the PPP, whose vote bank was not only intact but was swelling.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr Zardari said that he too deserved to celebrate Eid and other moments of happiness and grief with his children, and to offer fateha at his mother's grave, but the rulers had no care for that. He also missed his mother, other relatives and friends, who died during the last eight years, he added.

He said his children spent 16 Eids in the absence of their father, and despite the deaths of his close relatives and friends, the government did not release him even on parole, though 600 other prisoners in Sindh were given that benefit during the last eight month. Nevertheless, declining to be released on parole, Mr Zardari said his children were aware of his struggle.

Claiming that the PPP was a party of the masses, Mr Zardari said the establishment was not ready to accept this reality. He claimed the PPP was the only major democratic and popular force in the country, which stopped the anti-Pakistan elements from executing their plan for dividing the country.

He pointed out that Bangladesh was created when the majority supported the separation move, but in the present Pakistan, majority of the people were against any such plan.

He accused the government of mishandling the Wana situation and accused the rulers of not being sincere in resolving the problems of the people. Replying to a question, Mr Zardari said the ARD's experience with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal was not so good so far, because the MMA was responsible for accepting the 17th amendment to the Constitution.

Nevertheless, he said that both the ARD and the MMA should join hands to step up pressure on the government. Commenting on the US presidential elections, he claimed that the second term of President Bush would be different and his attitude would change.

Commenting on Gen Pervez Musharraf's 'Kashmir plan', Mr Zardari claimed the only massive people-to-people contact, trade, and free movement could help compel India to change its Kashmir stance and resolve the issue.