HYDERABAD, Oct 16: Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians MNA Syed Naveed Qamar Zaman Shah has said that it was one of the demands of the PPP that local governments should be suspended before the general elections and their powers of transfer and postings should be seized so that they couldn’t influence the elections.

He was addressing a news conference at his residence in Latifabad here on Tuesday.

Local party leaders including MPA Pir Amjad Shah Jillani, Sagheer Qureshi, Pasha Qazi, Syed Mohsin Shah Bukhari and others were also present on the occasion.

He said that the PPP had not changed its demands as to fairness of forthcoming general elections saying that local bodies’ institutions needed to be suspended and a neutral interim set-up should be put in place so that the general elections should not only be fair but also seem to be free and fair.

He said that neutral caretaker set-ups at federal and provincial levels would prove that elections held in a transparent manner.

“Local bodies’ institutions can influence general elections. Their powers for transfers and posting, controlling law and order and development works should be seized,” he said.

He further said that the Election Commission of Pakistan must take these steps because local governments now control law and order at district level. “Because these are the measures that facilitate holding of free and fair elections,” he said.

He said that a caravan of 450 buses of rural taluka in addition to other vehicles will leave for Karachi on Oct 18 to become part of an historic reception of Ms Benazir Bhutto.

He rejected those reports that raised suspicion over her return saying it was a propaganda launched by the rulers as they are completely baffled with outpouring response of party workers all over the country.

He appreciated spirit of those district governments that had refused to comply with directives of Sindh chief minister for removing wall chalking, banners and posters, welcoming PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto in Sindh province. “These directives are being issued by those who were on death bed”, he said. He expressed the hope that there will be positive developments in future after holding of general elections as far as Sindh province is concerned.

He urged party workers to reach Karachi on October 18 not only to accord historic reception but to protect their party chairperson. He was critical of the statements of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chief Minister Sindh Arbab Ghulam Rahim and said that they should do some soul searching as to how they reached corridors of power.

“Everyone knows how loyalties were changed but these people are claiming themselves to be honest although they are facing NAB cases”, he remarked.

He said that statements by Chaudhry Shujjat were aimed at creating blockade in return of Ms Bhutto because he apprehended that his party colleagues would switch over to PPP once two time ban on prime minister was lifted by the parliament.

About Asif Zardari, he said he will not accompany Ms Benazir Bhutto at this point and he had proved her steadfastness while remaining in jail for eight years. He said he was in Dubai and will return to the country when it seemed conducive. He said that the rhetoric by Sindh chief minister had in fact created a new vigour in party workers.

Meanwhile, district president PPP and MPA Zahid Bhurgari while addressing a news conference here on Tuesday said that around 600 buses will leave for Karachi on October 18 at 4am.

He was flanked by Syed Ameer Ali Shah Jamote MPA, Pervez Ansari, Roshan Solangi and Fayyaz Shah.

The MPA said that mobilisation campaign of his party was going at a hectic pace and meetings were held at UC level.

He criticised the Sindh chief minister and said the chief minister had called for removal of wall chalking and banners but how would he be able to eliminate the love of PPP and Ms Bhutto from heart of the party workers.

He said that people would hold the chief minister accountable soon. He said that post-October 18 situation will write a new history in the country.

He said that around 2.5 million people would welcome Ms Bhutto.