Benazir Bhutto demands EC to give Elections Schedule
'Pakistan Times' Political Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister and PPP Chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto has said that for the peaceful transition of powers, President Musharraf would have to restore constitution, adding, she said that "a long march would be launched from November 13 for the cause".

Addressing a press conference after ARD meeting in Islamabad, she demanded that all those political workers and lawyers, who were detained after emergency imposition, should be released forthwith.

The PPP Chairperson urged labourers and journalists to come forward for the cause, "as this is the struggle of all".

"Now it is time for the storm that has been brewing up to rage on the national scene", she remarked.

She demanded the President "to quit the army chief office", adding that "he should doff his military uniform before Nov.15".

Ms Benazir demanded, “The constitution should be restored and Election Commission should announce the schedule for the next general elections,” adding she also demanded the formation of new election commission.

Ms Benazir Bhutto said that "no meeting with President Pervez Musharraf has been scheduled to take place".

She said, “Extremism is on the rise and we want democracy through transparent and free elections”.

Ms Benazir Bhutto said "if the government does not adopt a peaceful way then the people will come out".

She said that the gap between the rich and the poor is widening. The former prime minister said that “we are not afraid of arrests and the struggle will continue”.

She stressed that the struggle should be made above all political parties’ interests.

She urged her supporters to attend the rally that would be held on November 9 in Rawalpindi.

Speaking on this occasion, she demanded the foreign forensic experts to be called to conduct probe into the October 18 Karachi tragedy.

At the same time, she once again demanded the annulment of condition regarding becoming premier for the third time.

“ARD condemns the curbs on the media and demands the termination of all sorts of censorship on media, as the information is a right well-deserved by the people," she added.

PPP Protest Demo

Police tear-gassed supporters of Ms Benazir Bhutto in Islamabad on Wednesday, minutes after the former premier called for mass demonstrations against a state of emergency.

At least 200 activists from Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party chanted "No martial law!" as they tried to get to the parliament building, a French news agency reporter witnessed.

Police baton-charged the demonstrators and fired tear gas shells. Various party workers were arrested and bundled into waiting police vans.

On this occasion, seven policemen were injured while entering into clash with PPP workers. Police arrested six PPP workers including a female activist, while they were protesting on Jinnah Avenue.

This demonstration was led by PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim and the demonstrators were chanting slogans for the restoration of constitution. After the shelling, Sherry Rehman and Amin Fahim went to Blue Area.

According to sources, the demonstrators wanted to stage the demonstration in front of the Parliament, but the police stopped them from dong so.

PPP Gathering Disallowed

Meanwhile, according to another report, the district government of Rawalpindi has not given permission to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for holding public gathering at Liaquat Bagh which was scheduled for Friday due to security reason.

“The government has decided not give permission for holding public gatherings and rallies due menace of suicide attacks,” said the District Nazim of Rawalpindi Raja Javed Akhlas while talking to a private television channel.

The government has imposed ban on public gatherings, rallies and demonstrations, he said, section 144 has also been imposed in the district.●