KARACHI, Aug 30: The Pakistan People’s Party on Friday termed rejection of Ms Benazir Bhutto’s nomination papers from NA-207 as part of mala fide game plan of the government and vowed not to give a walkover to the “King’s Party”.

“It is the blackest day in the history of Pakistan and a great setback to the struggle of democratic forces.

“Rejection of Benazir Bhutto’s papers has established that October elections will be a farce because the largest political party is not being allowed to contest the elections freely,” said Mian Raza Rabbani, acting secretary general of the Pakistan People’s Party, during a news conference at Bilawal House.

Flanked by other central leaders of the party, Mr Rabbani kept all options open and said the decision of the Returning Officer of NA-207 at Larkana was not in accordance with law, nor did it meet requirements of the constitution and natural justice.

Asked whether boycott of elections was on the PPP card, Mr Rabbani said: “This will suit the regime that the PPP gives a walkover to PML(Q) and SDA. This question is premature. We have not yet exhausted all legal options as yet.”

He said that today’s decision exposed the double standards and anti-PPP specific decisions of the regime, especially when a day earlier in Lahore papers of Mian Nawaz Sharif, who was convicted and banished from the country, were accepted.

He, however, made it clear that the PPP had welcomed the acceptance of Mian Nawaz Sharif’s papers with the hope that all political leaders would have the right to contest elections.

Raza Rabbani said that the PPP’s criticism should not be taken as if it was grudging acceptance of Mr Sharif’s nomination. He declined to comment on the question whether acceptance of Sharif’s nominations was part of any deal with the government.

He said it was part of the government agenda to keep Ms Bhutto out of electoral and political dispensation.

Mr Rabbani said Gen Pervez Musharraf had categorically stated on many occasions that he would not let Ms Bhutto return to power or contest elections.

He claimed that the government initiatives were aimed at keeping democratic and liberal forces, who are against fundamentalism and Talibanisation of Pakistan, out of the electoral process.

The acting secretary general of the PPP also referred to Ms Bhutto’s petition in the Sindh High Court and said his party would “exhaust all legal and political options” and the future course of action would be clear during the next few days.

He hoped that the Benazir Bhutto would eventually be allowed to contest and vowed that his party would put up a strong resistance to undemocratic and anti-people measures of the regime.

Mr Rabbani listed, what he termed as Bhutto-specific laws, which include amendment in Section 31-A of NAB ordinance and said it was in conflict with the provisions of criminal law.

He also referred to the graduation condition for holding a public office and for preventing a person from becoming prime minister for a third time, conviction owing to absconsion, amendment in article 63 and inclusion of clause (p). He said that this clearly proved the regime’s mala fide intentions.

He also criticised the amendments in political parties act, especially in which it has been said that a person who cannot be a member of the parliament cannot lead a political party. In this context, he specially mentioned the CE’s Order No.21.

He also explained the raison d’etre for the formation People’s Party Parliamentarian following amendment in section 32 of the NAB ordinance.

President Sindh PPP Nisar Khuhro said the rulers have repeated the history of 1979 and has made restoration of democracy a far cry.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who was present with Aftab Shahban Mirani, and Taj Haider, said the LFO 2002 has put the country in the same situation in which Yahya Khan had plunged the country in the 1970 which culminated in the separation of East pakistan.

Munawar Suhrawardy claimed it had created great dangers for the federation.

Agha Siraj Durrani whose papers for the provincial seat from Garhi Yasin were rejected said the decision was in flagrant violation of the Supreme Court order which he claimed had set aside his conviction.