KARACHI, Sept 24: The Pakistan People’s Party on Monday weighed its options regarding the candidacy of former Supreme Court judge Wajihuddin Ahmad, who has been selected by the legal fraternity to contest the forthcoming presidential election.

However, the PPP top brass failed to come up with a clear-cut position on the issue in their meeting on Monday.

The meeting was held in Bilawal House to discuss various options in connection with the presidential election and return of the party chairperson on Oct 18.

Those who attended the meeting included Mian Raza Rabbani, Sherry Rehman, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Khuhro, Aftab Shaaban Mirani, Nafees Ahmed Siddiqui, Nawab Yousuf Talpur, Dr Fehmida Mirza, Naveed Qamar, Faryal Talpur, Rashid Rabbani and Farooq Naik.

PPP senior vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim claimed that the return of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto on Oct 18 would change the political direction of the country.

He said the PPP would win the next elections and elect Ms Bhutto and form governments in the centre and provinces.

The meeting considered the preparations being made to welcome the PPP leader on her arrival in Karachi. Several committees formed for different purposes relating to the reception plan submitted their reports. Certain decisions were taken in the light of those reports.

The meeting also discussed various aspects of Benazir Bhutto’s landing at the airport and her journey to the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam.

Mr Fahim said Ms Bhutto’s decision to return home during the crisis plaguing the nation was of great importance because, according to him, she was the only “ray of hope for the toiling people of Pakistan”.

The PPP leader said it was now a “writing on the wall” that millions of people from all the four provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir would accord an enthusiastic welcome to Ms Bhutto at Karachi airport on Oct 18. “This historic reception will again prove that the Pakistani masses accept her as their leader from the core of their hearts.”

Mr Fahim said the PPP would “hit electoral records in the upcoming elections with the cooperation of all democratic and moderate forces of the country”.

The presence of Ms Bhutto’s lawyer Farooq Naek at the meeting indicated that the PPP leaders also weighed the legal options in case the government tried to block her homecoming or arrest her on arrival.

Although matters pertaining to mobilisation of the party cadres in Sindh and the mode of reception were the main concern, the upcoming CEC and federal council meeting of the party on Oct 3 in the British capital also figured in the meeting.

Sindh PPP Information Secretary Dr Fehmida Mirza condemned the arrest of APDM leaders and harassment of the Waqat TV journalists.