PESHAWAR, March 27: The People?s Party Parliamentarians on Sunday demanded free, fair and impartial election and transfer of power to the political leadership to steer the country out of the present problems. Speaking at the residence of Arbab Nisar Khan, who joined the party, at Landi Arbab village, PPP?s provincial chief Rahimdad Khan said the military rulers had no option but to hold general election. He said the coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League had failed to provide relief to people, who were facing price hike, unemployment and growing lawlessness.

He said the rulers were constrained to contact the PPP leadership to seek a workable political arrangement for the country. He said: ?The PPP believes in political dialogue, but it has been opposed to any dirty dealing with the rulers on a quasi-political arrangement. The PPP believes in the might of the masses and considers them the fountainhead of political power.?

The credit for launching a relentless struggle against theocratic forces went to the PPP, which had paved the way for enlightenment in the country in the early 1970s, he said.

He said the PPP supported the wheel-jam strike called by the Pakistan Oppressed Nations? Movement on March 31 to denounce price hike, construction of the Kalabagh Dam and growing lawlessness across the country. He urged PPP workers to make the strike a success and said it would be an expression of no-confidence against the government.

He said those who had betrayed the party at the behest of the military rulers would not be allowed to join it again. The workers were the main asset of the PPP, he said.

He said the PPP had given the 1973 Constitution, land reforms and right of associations to the working class and tried to ameliorate their lot. He said former senator Asif Ali Zardari would be given a rousing welcome at Lahore airport on his return to the country on April 16.