12 April 2005	Tuesday	02 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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LAHORE, April 11: The Pakistan People’s Party said on Monday that Asif Ali Zardari would lead a rally from Lahore airport to Data Darbar on Saturday, notwithstanding the ban imposed by the Punjab government. Any attempt to block the rally would lead to an unending war between the masses and the government, PPP Secretary-General Jehangir Badr said at a news conference after presiding over a meeting of the committee constituted to make arrangements to accord a warm welcome to Zardari.

“Those blocking others’ way also have their own way blocked,” he said, reminding the rulers that this was the era of “live and let the others live”.

The meeting was held at the residence of Federal Council Secretary-General Khalid Kharal. Qasim Zia, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Afzal Sindhu, Nafees Siddiqui, Munir Ahmad Khan, Dr Qayyum Soomro, Yousaf Khan and many others participated.

The PPP secretary-general said Section 144 was in force even when Gen Musharraf, the Punjab chief minister or the MMA leaders addressed rallies. He said since the Constitution gave all parties equal rights, the PPP was well within its right to receive its leader according to the programme it had chalked out.

Assuring the government that the rally would be peaceful, he said the party was prepared to hold talks with the administration to clarify any point. It would be unfortunate if anybody tried to vitiate the atmosphere, he said.

Alleging that the welcome banners and posters prepared by the party were being removed by the government, he said any retaliatory measures by his party would only add to tension. He said he would like to warn the rulers not to make any mistake which had the potential to divide society or sharpen polarization.

Qasim Zia said the PPP was keeping the doors for talks with the administration open.

Dr Safdar Abbasi said any move to block the rally would expose the so-called democratic system the government claimed was in place.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the party would raise the matter in the National Assembly. He said there were people in the present setup who wanted a stability in the country, but there were also others for whom a conciliation between the government and opposition would jeopardize their future. Such people, he alleged, wanted to keep the situation tense. Badr said it would be unfortunate if

a Sindhi Zardari determined to refute all charges against Punjab was prevented from his work.

Asked whether the government’s refusal to allow the PPP to welcome Zardari according to its plan could endanger the conciliation efforts being made at present, he said his party was not trying to strike a deal.

He said the PPP wanted the restoration of democracy for which the rulers should also play their due role. “We want compatibility with other parties.”

Meanwhile, the national media committee of the PPP met under the chairmanship of Chaudhry Munawwar Anjum on Monday.

The participants said it was strange that while the ruling party and the MMA were free to hold rallies, the PPP was being stopped from receiving its leader.

They said the reception would take place as scheduled. Alternative arrangements had also been made to take the PPP supporters to the airport, said a statement issued after the meeting.

The participants included Altaf Qureshi, Naveed Chaudhry, Mian Hanif Tahir, Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Zakariya Butt, Iqbal Sialvi, Faiza Malik and Uzma Bukhari.