ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: Leaders of Pakistan People's Party Azad Jammu and Kashmir have decided to launch a countrywide campaign for the immediate return of Benazir Bhutto and release of Asif Ali Zardari.
Speaking at a press conference, Sahibzada Ishaq Zafar, Chaudhry Majeed and Sardar Qamar Zaman on Monday asked President Gen Pervez Musharraf to end all cases against Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari so that genuine leaders could be included in the ongoing talks with India on Kashmir issue.
"If he (president) can shake hands with the Indian leadership, why not with Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto for the larger interests of the country," they added.
Initially, the movement will be started at district headquarters of AJK and the party has decided to organize processions, rallies and even strikes to force the government to allow the return of Benazir Bhutto.
This is a very critical time and Pakistan needs to be represented by a leader like Benazir Bhutto, who over the years had established herself as an internationally acclaimed diplomat.
The leaders regretted that Pakistan had adopted a weak stance on Kashmir issue which, they termed, was a result of short-sighted policies of the present government.
Though the PPP leadership has welcomed the recent thaw between India and Pakistan, presence of two ex-prime ministers was a must because they were real political leaders and represented people of Pakistan, they said.
Referring to the previous military governments, the leaders said whenever a decision had been taken by a military leadership, it had backfired and in the end the country suffered.
Being appreciative of the leadership of late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the PPP leaders said the present government had embarked on a dangerous course of action and needed some serious re- thinking.
When asked about their differences with the incumbent PPP AJK president Barrister Sultan Mehmood, they said: "Yes, we have certain differences over certain issues but as long as Benazir Bhutto does not change him, he is our party leader in AJK."
Meanwhile, a protest demonstration was also organized in front of the Indian high commission coinciding with Indian Republic Day celebrations. Speaking on the occasion, PPP AJK President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry said by declaring January 26 a Black Day, the Kashmiris all over the world had proven that India was violating human rights in occupied Kashmir.
Referring to the Indian claim of being the largest democracy in the world, he said: "If at all India is interested in settling the core issue of Kashmir, in the first instance it should curtail its military presence in the city residential areas of occupied Kashmir."
Earlier, protesters marched from foreign office to the Indian High Commission. They were holding placards, banners and chanted slogans against Indian repression in the valley.
Other leaders who were present on the occasion included All Pakistan Hurriyat Conference Convenor AJK Mohammad Farooq Rehmani, Jamaat-i-Islami leader Ijaz Afzal Khan and Hurriyat leader Nazir Ahmad Shaal.