January 14, 2007	Sunday	Zilhaj 23, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, Jan 13: The historic Liaquat Bagh rally on Sunday will put to rest the propaganda of a deal between the government and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Speaking at a press conference at Liaquat Bagh on Saturday, PPP Secretary-General Raja Pervez Ashraf said the party had decided to mobilise the masses against the anti-people policies of the regime.

MNAs Naheed Khan, Zamurd Khan, Senator Dr Babar Awan, Ibn-i- Rizvi, Mian Khurram Rasool, Qazi Sultan and Nasir Mir were also present.

Mr Ashraf said the PPP could not broker a deal with any dictator or his supporters, adding that his party would never compromise on its principles.

The Liaquat Bagh rally would prove that only free and fair elections can restore true democracy in the country.

He said PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto would be elected as prime minister for the third time if the elections were not rigged.

He said the prevailing price hike, unemployment and deteriorating law and order situation in the country had multiplied the miseries of the common man but the regime was oblivious to the problems.

Naheed Khan requested Ms Bhutto to land at the Islamabad airport on her return to Pakistan, adding that she would be given a warm reception.

She said the Sunday rally would be a peaceful public gathering, saying that any disturbance from the district administration would not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, former ambassador Prof B.A. Malik and central leaders of the PPP AJK have urged students and youth to participate in the rally in large numbers.

“The participation in large numbers of the youth and the students in the public meeting would be an irresistible catalyst for the people at large to mobilise and join hands for securing their democratic and constitutional rights,” Mr Malik said in a statement.

The AJK PPP leaders Chaudhry Abdul Majid, opposition leader Sardar Qamarul Zaman, secretary-general Chaudhry Latif Akbar, vice-president Chaudhry Yasin in a joint statement said the rally would pave the way for Ms Bhutto’s return to the country.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued from Islamabad, the PPP criticised what it said the persecution of the party and targeting of its supporters and sympathisers.

“While it mischievously planted stories of a so-called deal with the PPP, behind the scenes the regime has been busy persecuting the party,” the statement said quoting party leader Raja Pervez Ashraf.

He claimed that the regime had made plans to remove Sardar Abdul Qayyum Jatoi, the District Nazim of Muzaffargarh, for the only reason that he was a former MNA of the PPP and loyal to the party and its leadership.

“The federal and provincial governments have been trying for the last over one year to dislodge him, but in vain.” But now the Punjab chief minister and the provincial local government minister have finalised the plans to remove Mr Qayyum from his position, he said.