PESHAWAR, July 19: Former Pakistan People's Party provincial chief Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti has denied that he was planning to join any other PPP group after his removal from the party office.

Speaking at a news conference here at his Hayatabad residence on Monday, he said that he had spent 19 years in the party, founded by the late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto 37 years ago. "I am not a member of the parliament. I have nothing to do with the PPP Parliamentarians", he added.

He refused to make any comment against PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, who had removed him from the slot of PPP (NWFP) president after a party meeting in London. Mr Hoti said things would settle with the passage of time, but after a big political loss.

He said he knew only one PPP founded by ZAB, which was dear to him as he had burnt his energies for it. The 'Parliamentarians' is alien to him, because he is not a member of the parliament, he said.

When asked about his anti-PPP activities, Mr Hoti said he was not doing anything against the party interest. "Being a party worker, I have started a mass contact drive across the province, which is beneficial for the party", he added.

Mr Hoti said that a detailed investigation into the failure of the party candidate in Senate elections would unveil many a faces who had received a good share out of the bargain in Peshawar. The party should have to take action against the turncoats, he added.

He also denied that he had destroyed the PPP on the behest of military generals and organizing a separate group under the same banner. Mr Hoti said that he used to meet military officials living in his constituency and he had never tried to hide it. Being a political figure it was his duty to meet all sorts of people residing in his constituency, whether he was a general or a bureaucrat, he said.

He categorically refused that he was toeing the line of khakis or the establishment. "He said some of the noted politicians do meet military generals and seek their blessings, but they don't accept it. I will not name any of them", he added.

Replying to a question, he said he prayed for the early release of Asif Ali Zardari, who was braving hardships in detention. He said PPP chairperson did not ask him to attend the public meeting being organized on July 26 in Peshawar to denounce the prolong detention of Mr Zardari.