30 December 2004	Thursday	17 Ziqa'ad 1425

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LAHORE, Dec 29: The Punjab PPP on Wednesday rejected the government's decision to hold the upcoming local elections on non-party basis.

Local elections must be held on party basis, instead of subsequently herding the people elected on non-party basis into the ruling group, the party said at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Mr Qasim Zia.

Information Secretary Naveed Chaudhry told a news conference after the meeting that the party was of the view that the district and tehsil nazims should be elected directly.

He alleged that the government was introducing various changes to the system to sustain what it called the 'controlled democracy.' The participants also decided to celebrate the 77th birth anniversary of Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for 10 days from Jan 1 to 10.

The main function would be held in Lahore on Jan 5 under the chairmanship of Mr Amin Fahim. The meeting also rejected the government's decision for curbs on student unions. Many said that student unions were nurseries for future leadership and should be allowed to stay functional.

The carving of four new districts in Sindh was condemned. The victory of PPP candidates in the recent Punjab Bar elections was praised. Altaf Qureshi and Iqbal Sialvi were also present at the news conference.