KARACHI, Dec 22: Accusing the hidden forces of obstructing his Punjab visit, Pakistan People's Party leader Asif Ali Khan Zardari on Wednesday emphasized that despite such a provocation, the PPP would not opt for a policy of confrontation and he was still prepared to serve as a bridge between different political forces.

"The PPP is not heading towards a clash, nor is it our intention. The PPP is fighting for democracy," said Mr Asif Ali Khan Zardari while speaking at a news conference at Bilawal House after being released again on bail late Wednesday evening.

He was flanked by PPP's deputy secretary general Raza Rabbani, Sindh PPP chief Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Manzur Wasan, Taj Haider and Nawab Yusuf Talpur. Mr Zardari was released on bail again in Justice Nizam case when the Sindh High Court set aside the verdict of a lower court.

He said the SHC had reversed the earlier order at about 9:30am, but his release order was served on him at about 6:45pm, about nine hours after the court order.

In contrast when the lower court cancelled his bail in the case and issued non-bailable warrants around noon, the arrest orders reached Islamabad even before his plane landed at Islamabad.

He claimed that this was a clear violation of the laid down procedure because even if a court in Sindh had passed an order and action was required in the Punjab, it should have been sent to the counterpart court in that province for necessary action. It was not done and the administration took up itself to prevent him from visiting Punjab and meeting party supporters.

Mr Zardari felt that the hidden forces could have given another warning to him in such a manner to restrict his movement. He nevertheless said that he would visit Punjab as soon as circumstances permitted and declared that next time he would be more prepared.

He said he was not afraid of such coercive measures and reminded that he had not collected his belongings from the prison authorities. Zardari said he was being persecuted and harassed because he had vowed to fight for the democratic rights of the down-trodden against dictatorial rule.

Replying to a question, he said Pakistan was being weakened by government policies and called upon political and pro-democracy forces to put their heads together. Mr Zardari also deplored the imposition of Section 144 and said that bias of the government was obvious because only two days earlier MMA was given permission to hold meeting.

"They sealed Punjab, without realizing the economic loss it has caused, just to prevent me from reaching out to the people who had suffered under repressive rules" said Mr Zardari.

When asked to identify those hidden forces, Mr Zardari said "I cannot identify the person, but there is some power behind this commotion," he said. He deplored the use of force against PPP supporters in Pindi and elsewhere and warned the police against use of brute force.