KARACHI, Jan 14: Speakers at a function on Sunday demanded that all political leaders living in exile be allowed to return home so that they could participate in the political process here and help strengthen democracy.

They were speaking at a function organised in connection with the birth anniversary celebrations of a former prime minister and founder of the Pakistan People’s Party, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, by the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance at a local hotel.

Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro, Nafees Sidiqui, Rashid Rabbani, Micheal Javed, Shahzadi Micheal, Khadim Wilson, Mirza Maqbool and other speakers paid tributes to the late Mr Bhutto for his contribution towards strengthening of democracy in the country.

They expressed dissatisfaction over the present government and the present situation and said that the people had rejected the controlled democracy and they wanted that free and fair elections be held and they be allowed to elect their representatives according to their free will.

They also demanded that all the political leaders living abroad be allowed to return to Pakistan and to contest the ensuing elections. They said that if these popular leaders were not allowed to return and take active part in politics and contest elections, the credibility of the system would always remain doubtful.

Tributes were also paid to a member of the minority community, Yaqoob Masih Khokhar, who was the first one to set himself on fire when Z.A. Bhutto was hanged.

Later, a cake was also cut to celebrate the birth anniversary of the late Mr Bhutto.