HYDERABAD, July 28: Sindh Democratic Forum (SDF) has expressed concern over the media reports that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto has met General Pervez Musharraf in Abu Dhabi and perhaps entered into a deal under which the general will be accepted as president in uniform.

In a joint statement issued here on Saturday, the Convener of the forum, Abrar Qazi and Secretary Zulfiqar Halepoto said that in the eight years’ rule of General Pervez Musharraf, people have seen destabilisation of every state institution; with the constitution being trampled and all interests of the people were sacrificed for the narrow goal of clinging to power.

They said that the national and provincial assemblies were made rubber stamps, brazen attacks were carried out on the independence of judiciary and illegal military action was initiated to kill Nawab Akbar Bugti.

They also referred to the operation in Wana, Fata and Waziristan, disappearance of countless political workers and citizens, the economic scandals, war against media and civil society.

They pointed out that although the Charter of Democracy signed by the mainstream political parties of Pakistan does not stop the signatories from keeping in contact with the military regime and all criticism of Benazir Bhutto on this particular issue was unjust, still it apprehended that the PPP chairperson might succumb to temptations of power and struck a deal that would prove harmful to the democratic struggle and the anti-military rule sentiments prevalent in the country today.

They cautioned PPP chairperson that under the present circumstances any deal with Musharraf to elect him as president in the uniform would be a total negation of the mood and the resolve of the people of Pakistan, especially of Sindh, who wish to see the army firmly under civilian control.

If any political arrangement comes into effect that legitimises the hold on power of the Army Chief, the struggle, sufferings, hopes and resolve of the entire nation will bite the dust, they warned.

PML-Q: Vice President PML-Q Women Wing Hyderabad District, Syeda Tasneem Zohra has urged the party’s warring groups to shun their differences and work for the welfare of people.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Saturday she said nobody had the right to criticise Senator Ghaffar Qureshi or for that matter any other leader because this will harm party and jeopardise interest of the people.

She claimed that Senator Ghaffar Qureshi had played a leading role in strengthening the party throughout the province and added that the Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Senator Ghaffar Qureshi laid foundation of the party on strong footing.