October 28, 2007	Sunday	Shawwal 15, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 27: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said on Saturday the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and its allies would counter what he called ‘the anti-Pakistan agenda floated by Benazir Bhutto’, but, at the same time, said she would be given full security upon her arrival in Punjab.

“Seeking security is everyone’s right. We will provide her foolproof security upon her arrival in the province,” he said while speaking at a news conference where he announced the inclusion of a PPP ticket-holder, Mehr Dastgir Lak, and his supporters, including nazims, in the ruling PML.

When confronted with reports suggesting his desire to become the next prime minister, he said a decision to this effect would be taken at the joint forum of the PML and its allied parties.

Nevertheless, he said, desire to field him as a candidate for the slot of prime minister was being expressed by different quarters. Such demands were also being preferred in the cabinet meetings, and the masses were raising related slogans in public rallies to agitate the same, he said.

The chief minister said the government was trying to take along those still clinging to the PML-N and all allied political parties to counter the PPP’s ‘anti-Pakistan policies and the agenda’, which Ms Bhutto had taken back home.

“We will fully oppose the PPP because this is necessary for the protection of the country,” he said.

He alleged that statements issued by Ms Bhutto were part of a well-considered agenda. Her statements about IAEA’s access to Dr AQ Khan and allowing foreign forces to carry out military operations in tribal areas were aimed at weakening the country’s sovereignty, he alleged.

The chief minister claimed that Ms Bhutto’s such policies had generated for her a strong aversion among the people besides inviting hostility from within her party rank and file.

The decision of Mr Lak and his companions to join the PML was a proof of the internal rift in the PPP, he claimed. He said Mr Lak had also returned the PPP ticket. Now, he would contest the next general elections from the PML’s platform, he said.

The chief minister said Ms Bhutto had twice attempted to file an FIR against him, but to no avail.

Her demand of involving foreign agencies to investigate the Karachi carnage was irresponsible. “Indeed, she has lost faith in Pakistani institutions because of her eight-year-stay abroad,” he said.

He asked as to why she had not involved foreign agencies to investigate the murder of her own brother, Mir Murtaza Bhutto, in 1996 when she was the country’s prime minister.

She had given nothing to the country and had been seeking pardon ‘which has been given to her’, he added.

Replying to a question on the recent statement issued by Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri about the return of Nawaz Sharif, he said he wondered as to why he (Mr Kasuri) said so whereas a few days ago President Pervez Musharraf had made it clear that Mr Sharif could not return.

He said Mr Sharif would not be able to return to Pakistan for three years, and the Saudi government had now stopped him from meeting the visitors too. Statements regarding his return to Pakistan in near future had no ground, he said.