LAHORE, April 29: PPP workers observed a token hunger strike throughout the Punjab on Tuesday to protest against the LFO.

In Lahore, the hunger strike camp was set up at the Chairing Cross on The Mall in front of the Punjab Assembly building where scores of workers carrying placards inscribed with demands for the release of Asif Zardari and Mushtaq Awan raised slogans of “go Musharraf go.”

A heavy contingent of riot police had been deployed to avert any untoward incident.

Speaking to protesters, vice-president Yousuf Raza Gilani said the PPP would stick to its stand on the LFO issue and would resort to every mean to restore the Constitution as it was before Oct 12, 1999.

He said organizing public meetings and taking out processions did not tantamount to blackmailing the government on the issue.

Criticizing government’s stance that the LFO had already become a part of the Constitution, Mr Gilani questioned that if the government believed that its stand was lawful, why it was inviting the opposition for talks on the subject.

He warned the government that his party would not accept any law that would restrain people’s liberties in any manner.

Claiming that their struggle (against the LFO) was for strengthening the civilian government, he re-affirmed his party’s pledge to continue efforts in and outside the parliament for the betterment of the nation.

Punjab president Qasim Zia said the party would also raise the LFO issue from the floor of the Punjab Assembly.

He said if directed by chairperson Benazir Bhutto all PPP MPs would resign from their seats to press the government to accept party’s demands.

Federal council chief Khalid Kharal and Lahore president Mian Misbahur Rahman also visited the hunger strike camp.