23 December 2004	Thursday	10 Ziqa'ad 1425

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LAHORE, Dec 22: The PPP on Wednesday protested at the re-arrest of Asif Ali Zardari and simultaneously celebrated his release under the Sindh High Court orders, distributing sweets among party leaders and workers.

The protest-cum-celebration took place at the Lahore Press Club where the police had also been deployed to ensure that there was no untoward incident. Slogans were raised against the rulers, the Chaudhrys of Gujrat in particular.

Secretary General Jehangir Badr, Punjab President Qasim Zia, deputy information secretary Altaf Qureshi, Lahore President Haji Azizur Rehman Chan, secretary general Samiullah Khan, Federal Council Secretary General Khalid Kharal, former provincial chief Mushtaq Awan, Lahore women's wing president Sajida Mir, MPAs Azma Zahid Bukhari, Faiza Malik, media adviser Iqbal Sialvi and several others were present.

Talking to reporters, Badr said the PPP did not believe in deals. Instead, he said, it was struggling for democracy, and any compromise on it was impossible. The PPP, he said, wanted to mount pressure on the rulers to hold general elections in 2005. He said democracy was the only right course for the country, and all other options could lead to an anarchy and chaos.

He said those branding the PPP struggle as "noora kushti", or a pre-decided bout, were the ones who had helped the government pass the 17th Amendment. He said now Mr Zardari would come to the Punjab, and would be accorded a warm welcome.

QASIM ZIA: The Punjab PPP president said opposition's movement would continue till the supremacy of the constitution and parliament was restored. In a separate statement, Qasim Zia criticized Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi for using police against his opponents.

He said if the rulers had enjoyed political support, instead of relying on the police muscle and agencies they would have faced the PPP workers and leaders politically. He said the Punjab government got confused on hearing that Asif Zardari planned to undertake a visit to the country's biggest province.

Disagreeing with the argument that Mr Zardari had been arrested under a court order, he said had it been so the spouse of the former prime minister should have been apprehended in Sindh, not in the Punjab.

In fact, he alleged the government had started a crackdown a day before the court order, which belied the chief minister's assertion. He said at a meeting with him in Rawalpindi, the chief minister was not willing to allow the party to hold a public meeting, let alone a rally.

He said at his news conference in Lahore, the chief minister had used derogatory language against the PPP workers. If he did so again, he warned, the opposition would gherao him.

Qasim Zia said his party would apprise the world community and diplomats in Islamabad of the Tuesday police highhandedness against the PPP leaders and workers. Meanwhile, Mr Zardari reportedly phoned Sajida Mir and praised the role women activists were playing for democracy. He said he was proud of the dedicated and committed party workers.