LAHORE, Oct 1: The Punjab executive committee of the Pakistan People’s Party on Monday instructed party workers in districts across the province to organise torch-bearing processions and rallies on Oct 15 to mobilise the masses ahead of Benazir Bhutto’s scheduled return to the country on Oct 18.

The committee, which met here with provincial president Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the chair, hoped the government would not try to create hurdles in the homecoming of the PPP leader, and warned of ‘befitting’ reaction by party workers if such tactics were used.

“We have instructed party’s district organisations to show a strong reaction, no matter even if a law and order situation is created, if the administration impedes the peaceful exercise of our political right”, Qureshi said at a press briefing after the meeting.

Qureshi said the party’s senior vice-chairperson Makhdoom Amin Faheem would announce on Oct 5 the decision to be taken at a joint meeting of the central executive committee and the federal council in London on Oct 3.

He said the party would take stock of the situation created by the resignations by the lawmaker of the All Parties Democratic Movement parties, the insistence of Gen Pervez Musharraf on seeking re-election for another term in the presidency while retaining the army office, the conduct of Election Commission and a host of other issues before deciding its future course of action.

RESOLUTION: The committee also passed a resolution condemning the police torture of lawyers and journalists in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar on Sept 29, and said the action had been conducted to send a message to political parties in particular that the regime could go to any extent to perpetuate its rule.