HYDERABAD, Sept 22: The leaders of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) have announced the alliance will cooperate with the PPP in the ensuing general election.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Sunday, Michael Javed, member, federal council of the alliance, and Saleem Khursheed Khokhar, provincial president, said the APMA had entered into an election alliance with the People’s Party Parliamentarians to protect the rights, honour, lives and properties of the minorities.

They said the government had failed to provide protection to non-Muslims.

They thanked the PPP chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, for nominating candidates of the minorities from all the provinces and at national level to contest the election from the PPP platform.

They said although the joint electorate system had been restored in the country, the rulers had decided to introduce controlled democracy in the country.

The government, they said, wanted to hold the parliament hostage and thrust the king’s party on people through pre-poll rigging.

They alleged the minorities and their representatives were being issued threats to join the king’s party.

They appealed the minorities to vote for the PPP candidates in the election.

The APMA would observe solidarity days with the PPP in Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sailkot on Sept 25, 26 and 27 and throughout Pakistan on Sept 29, they said.

Answering a question, they regretted the seats reserved for the minorities were not commensurate with their population and said the minorities should also be given representation in the Senate.

Speaking on behalf of Sindh PPP president Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, a member of the Sindh council of the party, Maula Bukhsh Chandio, hailed the minorities’ election alliance with his party.

He said the Sindh ministers were violating election rules and were openly campaigning for their candidates.

Chandio disclosed Ms Bhutto would speak at a public meeting on telephone on Oct 4.