December 30, 2007	Sunday	Zilhaj 19, 1428

ATTOCK, Dec 29: Local leaders of different political parties on Saturday condemned the assassination of former prime minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto and termed it a conspiracy to sabotage the struggle for restoration of democracy and rule of law in the country.

Addressing a large gathering of party workers and other people after offering funeral prayers in absentia, PPP leader Malik Hakmeen Khan said Ms Bhutto’s assassination was a conspiracy of anti-democracy and retrogressive forces who were afraid of her popularity and imminent victory in the elections.

He rejected the government’s claims that Al Qaeda was involved in the tragic incident.

Mr Hakmeen said the mammoth election rallies and public gatherings of Ms Bhutto had frightened those elements who were seeing their defeat in the elections.

PPP leaders Shahan Malik, Syed Azmat Bukhari, District Bar Association president Rana Afsar Ali Khan and former president DBA Sheikh Ehsanuddin alleged that the leadership of PML-Q was involved in the killing of Ms Bhutto, because they had been afraid of her popularity among the public.

PML-N leader Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said Ms Bhutto’s assassination was, in fact, the killing of 160 million people of the country. He said the tragic event had put the country’s sovereignty in great peril.

Earlier, Ghaibana Namaz-i-Janaza was held by the DBA which was attended by a large number of people from all walks of life including former state minister Malik Amin Aslam and former provincial minister Malik Aslam Khan. On the occasion, PPP activists chanted slogans against the government, PML-Q leaders and district nazim of Attock.

TAXILA: Former federal minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan also condemned the assassination of Ms Bhutto and said her tragic death had inflicted an irreparable blow to the democratic process.

He was addressing a press conference here on Friday afternoon. Tehsil nazim Taxila and general secretary PML-Q district Rawalpindi Sadeeq Khan; president PML-Q Taxila chapter Chan Shah Kazmi and Wah Cantt chapter chief Taimoor Masood Akbar were also present.

Mr Khan, who was elected MPA three times from the PPP platform and also worked in Ms Bhutto’s cabinet, paid tribute to her, saying she was a leader of tremendous courage and commitment.

GUJAR KHAN: The days of Musharraf regime are numbered and the grief-stricken workers of PPP would continue the mission of their slain leader.

This was expressed by former MPA Raja Tariq Kiani while addressing a protest rally of PPP workers who were also joined by activists of PML-N and JI on GT Road on Saturday.

Mr Kiani said PPP was the symbol of federation and unity of Pakistan and the manifesto of the party actually reflected the constitution of Pakistan.