BAHAWALPUR, May 12: MNA Mian Riaz Husain Peerzada said on Saturday the ruling party should not have brought out a rally in Islamabad.

Talking to reporters, Mr Peerzada said in the present circumstances the government should refrain from bringing its supporters to roads as President General Pervez Musharraf did not need such rallies to better his image.

He condemned violence in Karachi, which claimed several lives. He said the Sindh government should have taken adequate measures to stop the killing of innocent people.

He said there were chances of the revival of a forward block in treasury benches of the National Assembly if excesses by the Punjab chief minister and the government continued against its opponents and critics.

He claimed the forward block was “non-functional” on the advice of Mr Musharraf. He said at the time of its creation two years ago, 70 MNAs had joined the forward block. Later on, the number decreased to 15. He said if the Punjab chief minister victimised them, the forward block could again be functional and more MNAs would join it.

He did not comment when asked if he would get a PML ticket for the next elections but said he had no contacts with PPP leaders.

He said the PPPP had no suitable candidate from his constituency in Khairpur Tamewali and they wanted him to be their candidate from there.