RAWALPINDI, Jan 5: Central leaders of Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao) on Wednesday claimed that they were the real heirs of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and would not allow their opponents to hijack the party.

The leaders had gathered at a function organized on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. PPP-S chairman and Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, its president and Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, general secretary and Minister for Northern Areas and Kashmir Affairs Faisal Saleh Hayat and PPP-S Punjab President and Minister for Science and Technology Noraiz Shakoor spoke on the occasion.

The function was arranged by veteran PPP worker Nazar Hussain Kiani. Rao Sikandar Iqbal paid glowing tributes to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, saying he was the torch-bearer of democracy. His services for democracy will never be forgotten, he added.

He was all praise for the present government. He said numerous steps had been taken to strengthen democratic institutions in the country. He said national and international situation necessitated that Gen Musharraf should remain in uniform. It was our party which first advised him to remain in uniform, he added.

Aftab Sherpao also lauded the services of Z.A. Bhutto for democracy. Leaders like him are born once in centuries, he said. Today, he is not among us but his mission, his courage and political philosophy are in our mind and will always guide us, Mr Sherpao said.

His leadership qualities can be judged from the fact that even his opponents admit that he was a leader par excellence and followed his principles. He said the people of Rawalpindi had offered great sacrifices for the party and democracy and the leaders of PPP-S would do their best to come up to their expectations. The trust you have reposed in us will never be hurt, he added.

He also remembered the sacrifices of his brother Hayat Sherpao and stressed on his supporters to follow the leaders who laid down their lives for democracy and the country.

The PPP-S Punjab chief Noraiz Shakoor also expressed similar views. He said Mr Bhutto was executed at the age of 53 and in this short period he achieved all accomplishments. This shows his vision, his genius and his leadership qualities.

Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was not only a politician but a great political thinker. If we follow the golden principles that he left behind we will achieve all the success, he said.

He said they were the actual heirs of Mr Bhutto. We will strengthen the party more and more, he said, and added that some big personalities would be coming to the fold of PPP-S in the next few days.

The host Nazar Hussain Kiani, in his welcome speech, said those who made high claims of being the heirs of PPP have no regard for workers and party representatives who offered big sacrifices. Mr Kiani said they would organize the party and run it on the principles that were set by their founding leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.