PESHAWAR, Dec 23: Some people holding key posts in the federal government were involved in the killing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, alleged senior activists of Pakistan People's Party here on Thursday.

“We will disclose their names on another occasion,” Peshawar City chapter president of PPP Syed Ayub Shah told a crowded press conference.

Flanked by PPP senior members Azam Afridi, Khwaja Yawar Naseer, Tahir Abbas, Saeed Ahmed Khan and Zulqarnain, he demanded of party co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari to expose the culprits and arrest them as soon as possible.

Mr Shah said that despite lapse of three years the government failed to arrest her killers. He said that leadership knew black sheep in the party but it was avoiding arresting them.

“It is our firm demand from the party leadership to expel the black sheep from the party and arrest them for their involvement in the killing of our leader,” he said.

He added that the only sin of Benazir Bhutto was to follow the agenda of her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to improve the living standard of poor.

Mr Shah said that a big procession would be taken out from Hashtnagri in Peshawar on Dec 27 to force the government for arrest of the Benazir's killers.

The party workers from all districts of the province would participate in the rally, he said. The basic purpose of the rally, he said, was to pay tribute to their slain leader as she had rendered great sacrifices for the country.

“She knew about the threat to her life but Benazir took the risk and came to the country because she wanted restoration of democracy,” he added.

He also lashed out at party ministers for not paying attention to workers, saying the death anniversary would be observed only by the workers without any support of party ministers.

He said that PPP was very strong party but its leaders failed to further strengthen it as there were no intra-party elections and its organisational structure had totally been disturbed.

“We are not doing our job efficiently. The leadership needs to follow the party manifesto as was followed by the slain leaders, who raised the slogan of Roti, Kapara and Makan,” he said.

Mr Shah also referred to the killing of people in Fata and warned if the US did not stop drone attacks, Pakistanis would take a unified stand against the Nato. He said that Nato forces had created chaos and unrest in the region.

“Peace can't be restored until withdrawal of International Security Assistance Forces from Afghanistan,” he said.

He said that Iran and China were their good friends and it was needed to enhance bilateral ties with them.

“I salute President of Iran Ahmandi Nejad for standing to the US,” he added. To a query, he said that the party workers were not happy with performance of PPP-led coalition government. He said they would fight for rights of the people.