KARACHI, Sept 2: Thousands of emotionally-charged Pakistan People’s Party workers carrying party flags and torches vowed on Sunday to give a befitting welcome to party chairperson Benazir Bhutto when she returns to the country after September 14 from self-exile.

Many of the workers were also happy that a deal with “the military dictator” had not been reached, without considering the reason why Ms Bhutto had given such a distant date to decide about her return to the country. Some of them felt that this schedule could be a ploy to push President Musharraf for a deal.

The workers marched from the mausoleum of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi up to Bilawal House to celebrate the announcement of the return of Benazir Bhutto.

The workers also adopted a declaration stating that they would “stand by each and every policy of chairperson Benazir Bhutto and offer every kind of sacrifice for the implementation of her vision for a democratic, liberal, progressive, peaceful, prosperous and vibrant society in Pakistan.”

The PPP workers also pledged loyalty to the leadership of Ms Bhutto “till the last breath and to serve the party cause with every drop of our blood.”

They paid tribute to party workers and supporters who have stood by the party despite innumerable pressures and victimisation during trying times.

They also paid tribute to the judiciary for its unflappable system of justice and prayed that the same is applied to rectify the “injustice” faced by Benazir Bhutto.

The PPP workers also paid tribute to the component parties of the ARD for their untiring struggle during the past eight years to restore democracy in the country.

They pledged to continue its struggle for democracy and civil liberties, for the sanctity of the Constitution, the vote and the parliament, and for a people’s government in the country, which, they said, is the only weapon to eradicate terrorism and lawlessness from Pakistan.

“The PPP has immense hope in the people of Pakistan and firmly believes that together under the leadership of Benazir Bhutto, we can put Pakistan on the road to economic, political and social stability,” speakers said.

“Let it be heard by each and everyone pointing fingers at Benazir Bhutto that PPP workers are of a different mould and have a bright record of sacrifices, from the leadership to the workers. Their trust in the party leadership is unmatched in the history of Pakistan,” they added.

The rally was led by the PPP workers and Benazir Welcome Committee, PPP Sindh Secretary-General Nafees Siddqui, PPP Women’s Karachi division President Farzana Baloch, local leaders Eijaz Durrani and Waqar Mehdi, opposition leader in the City Council Saeed Ghani, Najami Alam and others.

The PPP workers chanted slogans in favour of their chairperson and danced to the tunes of party songs.