LAHORE, Feb 7: Pakistan Muslim League Sindh President Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim said on Thursday that Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari must be interrogated in connection with Benazir Bhutto’s murder.

Addressing a press conference here, Rahim said PPP workers were ‘not ready’ to accept Zardari as their leader and that the party was divide over its candidate for the office of the prime minister. He said Ms Bhutto’s will ‘lacked’ authenticity and that people had ‘doubts’ about it. He said PPP workers raised slogans like “Pakistan Na Khapay” (Pakistan not wanted) at protests ensuing Ms Bhutto’s murder on Dec 27. In these circumstances only PML could keep the federation intact, he added.

Rahim, also former Sindh chief minister, said President Pervez Musharraf must continue as head of the state because he had ‘a vital role’ to play in the coming days. He said Nawaz Sharif was the leader of Jati Umera alone. “He got a heavy mandate in the 1997 general election, but he wasted it due to his childish behaviour.”

About his party’s candidate for the office of the prime minister, Rahim said Pervaiz Elahi was the undisputed candidate for the office so far, however, the PML would take a final decision in this regard later.

To a question about the possibility of a post-election alliance between PPP and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the former chief minister said it was ‘impossible’ because the two parties had a clash of interests.

He said if the MQM would form government with any party it would be the PML. —Staff Reporter