RAWALPINDI, Nov 30: Speakers at a rally held in connection with the 36th founding anniversary of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) here on Sunday paid tributes to party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and vowed to fulfil his mission till restoration of democracy in the country.

They rejected the Legal Framework Order and said that amendments to the 1973 Constitution were unacceptable.

The speakers said the PPP was a symbol of federation and its leader Benazir Bhutto the most popular leader of the country. Therefore, they contended that all conspiracies to destroy the party would fail.

PPP secretary-general Jehangir Badar said workers had foiled conspiracies of the opponents by enthusiastically celebrating the founding anniversary of the party.

He said the PPP had always struggled for the sake of democracy whether it was in power or in the opposition.

Mr Badar said party’s founding father never compromised on principles and instead of accepting the offer to leave the country preferred to get hanged in the country. He warned that the country cannot be ruled by guns for long.

Referring to the 20 parliamentarians who deserted the PPP, People’s Party Parliamentarians secretary-general Raja Pervez Ashraf said people should not forget that 60 members of the parliament had patiently stood by the party in all testing times.

He said history of the party was full of sacrifices and workers would teach a lesson to the turncoats if they attempted to hijack the party.

PPP Rawalpindi president Chaudhary Zamrud Khan said the party would once again emerge as a force in the city after settlement of differences among its workers.

He appealed to PML (N) to launch a joint struggle for the release of Asif Zardari and Javed Hashmi.

Nasir Mir, information secretary PPP Rawalpindi, said workers were ready to launch a movement for the release of Mr Zardari and return of party chairperson Benazir Bhutto. Several other leaders also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the party had planned to hold the rally at the Committee Chowk, but the local administration did not give it permission. The leaders then decided to move to Liaquat Memorial Hall lawns.