MIRPURKHAS, Aug 8: The president of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and People’s Party Parliamentarians, Makhdoom Amin Faheem, has said that the PPP will take part in next elections only if these were held under an independent and autonomous election commission.

He said that PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto would return before the general elections.

Speaking at a news conference at the residence of Mumtaz Shah Lakyari on Tuesday, he said that the Hudood Ordinance issue had been raised by the government to divide the opposition.

The Makhdoom also went to the Jilani house and offered condolences to MNA Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani on death of his mother.

Referring to the political crisis in Sindh, he said that it was a dispute to pressurise the weak military government for acceptance of demands.

“The government has failed as far as corruption and privatisation is concerned. Whenever the military government comes in power it controls all departments including the judiciary”, he said.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the law and order situation, he said that people including leaders of religious parties were being targeted by terrorists.

“The military dictator is ruling over the country and the downtrodden people are facing hardships. No one today considers safe”, he said.

He said that the assailants involved in the attack on the Corps Commander were arrested but those involved in attacks and target killings were yet to be brought to justice.

He said the country’s foreign policy had led to isolation of Pakistan.

He said that when criminals shake hands with the military government their criminal records were put under the carpet to enable them become ministers.

He said that Gen Musharraf called himself as the president of the country but he had proved that he was president of the PML.

He said that Gen Musharraf was attending meetings of the PML and trying to resolve their differences.

He said that military officers take oath that they would not take part in politics but they violate it by indulging in politics.

He said that Gen Musharraf was running the election campaign for the PML and asking people to vote for it to ensure progress of the country.

He said that the people were struggling for restoration of democracy and political leadership would succeed.

He said that the MMA was cooperating with the ARD for restoration of democracy in the country.