January 26, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 16, 1429

HYDERABAD, Jan 25: People’s Party leader Syed Naveed Qamar Zaman Shah has accused the establishment of once again demonstrating the mentality that had led to disintegration of the country in 1971 and said the PPP doesn’t accept ‘illegal acts’ of President Pervez Musharraf.

He expressed his party’s readiness to work with all political forces for positive constitutional reforms to achieve people’s aspirations of equal resource distribution, independence of judiciary, army’s non-intervention in politics and provincial autonomy.

He was speaking to journalists after chairing a condolence meeting organised by PPP’s study circle head Maula Bux Chandio at the press club here on Friday.

“President Pervez Musharraf’s statement regarding the deployment of army in Sindh before and after the elections with orders of shoot to kill is quite reflective of the mentality that was witnessed in 1971 and that mentality had led to the country’s dismemberment,” Qamar told journalists.

He said that in 1971 the country was broken because of the political situation that had developed after the elections. “The same philosophy is being applied in Sindh,” he said.

About a question of future working relationship with other political forces including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he said that if the institution building has to be done and once elections are held, the PPP would get along with all those forces that are ready for cooperation for positive constitutional reforms.

“We need to do institution building and people’s objectives cannot be achieved unless an alliance of political forces is forged,” he said.

He said that political forces would be required to work like a well knit unit for achievement of this goal.

He described the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) as “mala fide ordinance by a mala fide government.

“He said the government today reminds them that it could be re-promulgated.

“We don’t accept illegal acts of Pervez Musharraf,” he said.

To a question whether PPP would accord indemnity to President Musharraf in next parliament, he said “we will cross that bridge when we come to it”.

He said today President Musharraf finds himself cornered because if he holds elections then he will be in trouble and in case he didn’t than obviously it will certainly mark an end to his power.

Earlier, speaking to participants of the condolence meeting he urged the people to be courageous enough to move ahead. He disagreed with the view that assassination of Benazir Bhutto was planned to perpetuate Pervez Musharraf’s rule or postpone the elections. He said that this act must have long term objectives that would come to fore with the passage of time.

The PPP study circle’s Maula Bux Chandio observed that Benazir Bhutto had always respected party workers and she always took extra care in speaking to them because of her towering personality.

He said the people would have to change this sorrow into strength and her sacrifice would not go in vain.

Prof Inam Sheikh, Prof Mushtaq Mirani, Pervez Ansari, Taj Joyo, Amar Sindhu, Zulfikar Halepoto and others also spoke on the occasion.

They said that intelligent people are considered deadly poison in this country and that’s why Benazir Bhutto has been eliminated.

They said that it was her charisma and political acumen that had won her accolades all over the world. They said that people had pinned hopes on her and it was not liked by rulers adding that a thin line had been drawn between masses and the ruling elite.