LARKANA: Sherry Rehman, a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party, has said Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is not coming here to attend the seventh death anniversary of his mother, Benazir Bhutto, because of security threats.

Speaking at a press conference at the Larkana press club on Friday evening, she said earlier it was the health issue of Mr Bhutto-Zardari that had prevented him from coming back but that had now been resolved.

Replying to a question, she said people lived on hopes and there had always been a ray of hope. She said the PPP was still standing by the people and it had lived even through ‘utter darkness’. Talking about the risks in unconventional warfare, she mentioned some conspiracies. “We have drawn a red line between Pakistan and terrorism,” she remarked.

Know more: Zardari on mission to bring Bilawal back

Responding to a question regarding the proposed military courts, she said a draft was yet to be prepared. “At the 11-hour-long meeting we continuously discussed the issue,” she said. Ms Rehman said the draft would be tabled before parliament which would decide about it. She said the courts would not be above the Constitution and they would be set up for a limited period.

She said due to the Peshawar tragedy, other political parties had cancelled their programmes but the PPP was observing Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary. When asked if a PPP central executive committee’s meeting would be held at Naudero, she replied in the negative.

About Makhdoom Amin Fahim, she said he himself had clarified that he would not leave the PPP.

Jamil Soomro and Fida Dhakan were also present.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014