PESHAWAR, Oct 23: The Pakistan People’s Party has said that a parliament without Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif will be deemed incomplete and unrepresentative.

Speaking to journalists at the residence of the late Arbab Jehangir Khan, PPP senior-vice president Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said his party had been struggling for the replacement of the present exploitative system with a welfare-oriented one in Pakistan.

He said his party would not allow the rulers to turn the country into their personal fiefdom. Mr Gilani arrived here on Tuesday evening to condole with Dr Arbab Alamgir, PPP provincial information secretary, over the death of his father.

Mr Gilani said the late Arbab Jehangir was a seasoned politician and a personal friend. He said since the imposition of military rule in the country, the PPP had been calling for free, fair and transparent general elections under a neutral caretaker set-up.

He remarked: “Welfare of the masses and integrity of Pakistan will ensure restoration of real democracy in the country. The rulers are afraid of people’s might. That is why they are opposed to the organisation of big public meetings and political rallies.”

He said the PPP had made it clear to the rulers that it would not allow the banning of political activities on various pretexts. He said the international community was also in favour of free, fair and transparent elections.