RAWALPINDI, Jan 2: The government under the control of an army general cannot browbeat the workers and supporters of Pakistan People's Party through its witch-hunt.

These views were expressed by the PPP senior vice chairman, Yousaf Raza Gillani, while talking to a group of party representatives in Adiala jail.

Those who visited the PPP leader were secretary coordination Ch Muqeem Khan, Haji Saleem Mughal, senior vice president People's Students Federation Ch Banaras, divisional president Tauqeer Abbasi and others.

Mr Gillani said the government could not reduce the affection of the party workers for Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari through its smear-campaign against them. "Trials and tribulations of jail and exile won't distance us from the people," he said.

He condemned the government crackdown on the opposition leaders and their supporters and said it would further boost their morale. Mr Gillani asked the government to open its eyes to the reality and accept the fact that PPP was the country's biggest political party.