PESHAWAR, Nov 9: The Pakistan People’s Party has called upon human rights bodies to take a strong notice of the persistent detention of Asif Ali Zardari, spouse of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, who has completed seven years in prison without any conviction by court of law.

Speaking at an Iftar-dinner hosted in honour of diplomats, politicians and newsmen at his Hayatabad residence on Sunday, PPP provincial president Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti observed that the unjust incarceration of Mr Zardari was a mockery of justice.

Mr Hoti said none of the courts, where Mr Zardari’s cases were pending, had convicted him in any case. Even then Mr Zardari had spent seven long years in prison, he added.

He said: “If Mr Zardari is released by the court, who will give him back seven prime years of his life. It is miscarriage of justice, and human rights organizations must take up this issue with the rulers”.

He said the rulers wanted to set a new record by keeping him (Mr Zardari) in prison for a longer time, he added.

The PPP had already launched a campaign for the early release of Mr Zardari and other political prisoners. They would organize protest meetings after Eid against the wrongdoings of the rulers all over the province, he added.

Mr Hoti said the PPP and the PML both had been forced to take onto the streets against the detention and arrest of Mr Zardari and PML-N acting chief Javed Hashmi.

The rulers were running the country in a despotic style, but paraded themselves as elected representatives of the people, he added.

The general public, he said, had lost confidence in the judiciary.

Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy secretary-general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said the ARD would not allow the government to root out the genuine political forces on petty charges. The ARD would resist every dictatorial move by the rulers, he added.

Iranian Consul General in Peshawar, Mohammad Hasan Imami, PML secretary-general Saranjam Khan, ARD secretary general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and PPP leaders Rahimdada Khan, Sardar Ali Khan, Najmuddin Khan and others were present.