January 08, 2009	Thursday	Muharram 10, 1430

KARACHI, Jan 7: Senior Sindh Minister and a prominent leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Pir Mazharul Haq has rejected the allegations and claims made by Ghulam Mustafa Khar during his Tuesday press conference at the Karachi Press Club, and advised him to stop spitting venom against his benefactor party.

Mr Khar, once a close lieutenant of PPP founder chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, had observed that the PPP might restrict itself to Sindh owing to its declining popularity in the country. A former chief minister of Punjab, Mr Khar had also criticised the present PPP leadership and its policies.

In a rebuttal, Pir Mazhar said Mr Khan was a confused leader who was trying to take advantage of his past association with Z.A. Bhutto although he had ditched the party and had to beg pardon to return when Mr Bhutto was alive.

Rejecting Mr Khar’s claims about the PPP having groupings, Pir Mazhar said the party was a “trust” of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto and its all members, including leaders and workers, were loyal to its incumbent chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and the co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari.— Staff Reporter