LAHORE, April 15: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said on Friday that talks with the government could not go side by side with a show of force and advised the PPP to choose a single course.

At a news conference held a day before the scheduled return of Asif Ali Zardari, the minister said there was no contradiction in the government’s policy on the issue of Mr Zardari’s return.

He was asked why had the government adopted a tough policy despite holding reconciliation talks with the PPP, while it was being soft on India in its attempt to improve relations.

Sheikh Rashid said there was no contradiction in the two policies which were for two different issues.

Referring to PPP advertisements in the media the minister said such tactics could not turn Marcos (the late Philippines president who had transferred billions of the public money to foreign banks) into a Nelson Mandela (the South African leader who had spent more than quarter of a century in prison during his struggle against apartheid).

He said a leader who had looted national wealth should not use the crutches of party workers. He also made it clear that President Musharraf had not said he was willing to meet Ms Benazir Bhutto.

In an obvious reference to the PPP plan to hold a rally in the city on the arrival of Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday, the minister said in the present era more important than rallies and processions was to see how to serve the masses better. Sheikh Rashid said despite the efforts of the PPP and the government, Mr Zardari would not emerge as a leader.

When it was pointed out that in Punjab the law had taken its course before anybody had taken it into his own hands, he said in the subcontinent traditional politics had not changed yet.

When asked why was the MMA being given a free hand to hold rallies when the PPP was not being allowed to exercise the same right, the minister said in a light vein that no restriction could be imposed on the religious alliance.