KARACHI, 19 January — The Pakistan People’s Party has denied reports that the party and the government are close to an understanding on disputed matters. A spokesman of the party said in Karachi yesterday that the PPP expects the government to end what it called the one-sided persecution of its leaders in prison, exile or banned from traveling
"The PPP delinks the issue of the end of persecution from a political understanding with the military regime."
The party said that its leader, Benazir Bhutto, is the front-runner in the elections scheduled for October 2002.
"The PPP expects assurances for her safe return and participation in the next elections and has already endorsed her as its prime ministerial candidate for the third time." The PPP finds it hard to understand the opposition of the government to Benazir although the regime keeps borrowing her ideas, though always a little too late, the spokesman said.
The party recalled that the original demand for Pakistan to distance itself from Taleban regime, and for returning to the joint electorate system, was mooted by the PPP. The party had also given unconditional support during the war against terror which went unacknowledged and unappreciated.
It emphasized that it has kept the doors of dialogue open with the government to facilitate a transfer of power. However, the dialogue was logjammed on the government’s insistence to hold Asif Zardari, the husband of Benazir, hostage to the political activities of Benazir.
