KARACHI, June 21: Veteran politician, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, chief of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, has said that under the present challenging circumstances, Benazir Bhutto is the need of the hour for the country as her role in the democratic movement counts most.

Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, talking to newsmen on Friday here at Bilawal House, after performing the cake-cutting ceremony of Benazir Bhutto’s 49th birthday, in reply to a question, said: “Who has given the right to Gen Pervez Musharraf to stop any politician, including Benazir Bhutto, from taking part in the elections? This is the sole right of the party workers. Ms Bhutto is the leader of a major federal party and no one can stop her from participating in the elections.”

To another question, he said, “We have a natural alliance with Benazir Bhutto because we have all struggled together for the restoration of democracy in the country.”

When asked about turning the MRD into an electoral alliance, he said that it was premature to ask such a question as neither a notification had been issued for holding elections, nor the government had lifted the ban on political activities.

PPP Senior Vice Chairman, Makhdoom Amin Faheem who, on arrival of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, welcomed him along with other PPP leaders, said that Benazir Bhutto had taken the principal decision of returning home.

However, he said, the central executive committee of the party had been awaiting the announcement of election schedule to apprise people of the happy news. “No one, including Gen Pervez Musharraf, has the right to stop Benazir Bhutto from returning home.

“This country belongs to Benazir and the people who have given sacrifices for the solidarity of the country.”

Mr Amin Faheem said that the situation on the borders of the country was very grave and this did not augur well for the country.

In reply to a question, Mr Faheem accused the government of taking a “U-turn” on the Kashmir policy and to wait for its consequences.

He denied any offer to the PPP for premiership of the country, saying that whenever the government had contacted the party, PPP had adopted the ARD stance and presented its stand to the government.

“PPP does not believe in secret deals with the government, as all its deal have been with the people who are the real bastion of power,” he added.