LARKANA, June 12: Sindh PPP president Qaim Ali Shah has said that all political parties in the ARD will sign the charter of democracy in London on July 2. Talking to journalists after addressing a party gathering here on Monday, he termed the charter an important document after 1973’s constitution.

“It is quite encouraging that Qazi Hussain Ahmed, who heads the MMA, in a recent meeting with ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim appreciated the document and Maulana Fazul Rehman has reacted positively to it” he said.

Replying to a question that will the PPP participate in the polls if held under present rulers, Qaim Ali Shah said it was premature to comment on it and added that the PPP had taken part in elections under odd days.

Speaking at the party function, he said that the day the charter of democracy had been signed the rulers had started a smear campaign against the PPP leadership.

He said that Z.A. Bhutto had fought against generals and his daughter had adopted the same path.

He said that Benazir Bhutto was the leader of people and striving for the betterment of people. He said that if fair polls were held in the country Benazir Bhutto would surely win the election.

He said that minus Benazir Bhutto we stand nowhere.

He said that when Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Ghulam Mustafa Khar and Meraj Muhammed Khan had parted ways with the PPP they had lost their standing.

Qaim Ali Shah said the Sindh chief minister had no sound footing because Imtiaz Shaikh and other party leaders were after him.

“When finds himself in hot water, he (the chief minister) requests the PPP for support in assembly for completing quorum” he said.

“It looks quite strange that Muttahida Quami Movement chief Altaf Hussain claims to fulfill the mission of Z.A. Bhutto but frequently talks against Benazir Bhutto” he said.

He called upon the workers to make the membership drive a success that would continue till August 8.

He said that the election commission had been formed with two retired high court judges and Fozia Wahab would conduct party elections right from the union council to the upper level.

“We are receiving tremendous response” he said.

He said that if elections were held by a neutral caretaker government and independent election commission, the PPP would emerge as popular political party.

He urged party workers to hold seminars, workshops, and debates for seven days discussing the charter of democracy in Sindh.

PPP Larkana district president Ayaz Soomro, Qambar-Shahdadkot district president Ghulam Mujtaba Isran, MNA Ramesh Lal, Apa Nasiban Channa, Khursheed Junejo, Aftab Bhutto and Saleem Soomro also spoke on the occasion.