SUKKUR, April 13: People's Party Parliamentarians acting chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim has termed the government a fragile one and predicted that it will not last longer and President Gen Pervez Musharraf will be left with no other option except announcing fresh elections.

He was talking to journalists in Syedpur, near Daharki, on Monday, where he had come to condole the death of the mother of Syed Lal Shah, chairman, Rawnti Union Council. Lauding the verdict of the Supreme Court on the returnof Shahbaz Sharif, the PPP leader said that the government must desist from creating hurdles to his return as he was a Pakistani and had the right to come to the country.

He said that the government should realize that the political situation of the country could become normal and even better with the return of Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and other political leaders residing in self-exile.

Answering to a question, Mr Fahim said that he had been offered the post of prime minister but he refused to accept it as he thought that the office should go to Benazir Bhutto. Answering to another question, he said that lawlessness prevailed not only in Sindh but throughout the country.

He said that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal had betrayed them on the Legal Framework Order issue and the religio-political alliance was misusing the mandate given to it by the people. About PPP deserters, he said that those who had betrayed and left the party would never be allowed to rejoin it.

On the occasion, MNA Khursheed Ahmed Shah said that they had taken up problems of Sindh at the recent session of the National Assembly but it was felt that the government had no interest in resolving the problems.

He said that the people in the government were not sincere even with each other and indulged in hypocritical politics and added that by rooting out hypocrisy, the political process could be improved.

Earlier, addressing a public meeting at the Jam House in Adilpur, Mr Fahim predicted that general elections would soon be held and the PPP would emerge victorious in them. He asked party workers to remain in close contact with the people. Others who spoke on the occasion include, MNA Aijaz Jakhrani, Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Sardar Ahmed Ali Pitafi and Mian Mithoo.