ISLAMABAD, April 17: Secretary General Pakistan People’s Party Jehangir Badr on Thursday denied that his release was part of an under-hand deal with the government.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said his release was not part of any clandestine deal and added that his arrest in a cooked-up case was part of the government’s campaign to victimise its political opponents.

He said a reference seeking disqualification of the members of People’s Party Parliamentarian (Patriots) would soon be filed with the court, here on Thursday. He said those who had formed the Patriot Group had already been expelled from the party.

When his attention was drawn towards the fact that the members of the Patriot Group still recognised Ms Benazir Bhutto as their leader, he said she was the leader of the people of Pakistan.

Mr Badr said if they had any differences, they should have raised the same at the party forum. “Differences does not mean that they should have joined hands with others to share power,” he remarked. Answering a question, he said the decision about return of Ms. Benazir Bhutto was to be taken by the party at an appropriate time.—APP