PESHAWAR, Aug 29: Former federal minister and leader of Pakistan People’s Party, Naseerullah Babar, has charged former Sindh Chief Minister, Abdullah Shah, of being involved in the murder of Mir Murtaza Bhutto, saying that even if he returned back to Pakistan after striking a deal with the government, he would be put behind bars.

He said that as he was the interior minister at the time, he was well conversant with all the facts of the case. However, he said he would remain silent as the matter was sub judice.

Addressing a “Meet the Press” programme of the Nowshera Press Club and a number of election rallies here on Thursday, he said the PPP (Parliamentarians) would sweep the general elections and no power, including Gen Musharraf could stop them from establishing the future government.

Babar claimed that there were no evidence of pre-polls rigging in the NWFP, however some of the district Nazimeen had been violating the elections code of conduct.

“Qazi Hussain Ahmad has also been utilising all his party funds in his constituency in Nowshera and the EC shall take notice of it,” said Mr Babar, who is contesting from the two national assembly constituencies of Nowshera.

He claimed that Osama bin Laden was not in Pakistan and had escaped from Afghanistan through Badakshan province with his supporters on 16 horses much before the US attack on Afghanistan last year.

The ex-minister said the government had miserably failed in maintaining law and order situation even in Islamabad and Gen Musharraf himself could not go out.

He added that the government should ensure free and impartial elections as the US State Department and European Union had been closely monitoring the polls.

He dispelled the impression that PPP had struck a behind-the-scenes deal with the government, saying that his party did not believe in such deals.

“Aftab Sherpao, Azam Hoti and Sardar Mehtab came out of prison after striking deals with the government and it is only the PPP that has not struck a deal,” Babar claimed.