HYDERABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is very likely to hold a long march over the Panama leaks issue if the four demands made by its chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, are not accepted by Dec 27.

This was stated by Sindh PPP Information Secretary Senator Aajiz Dhamra at a news conference held in the local press club on Monday. Saghir Qureshi, Dr Irfan Magsi, Ehsan Abro and other party leaders were also present.

Mr Dhamra condemned Federal Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali`s recent statements against the PPP chairman and asked him to desist from making such statements in future. He said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)`s worries were understandable in view of PPP`s active politics in Punjab.

`Reorganisation of the PPP has baffled the PML-N. Such statements are being issued to divertpeople`s attention from Panama leaks. Our political activities in Punjab are posing a threat to the Takht-i-Lahore,` said Mr Dhamra.

The senator said the PML-N also knew that Mr Bhutto-Zardari was going to be the next leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. As such, the ruling party`s restlessness was understandable, he added.

He observed that the PML-N was also worried as to why the PPP was holding its founding day celebrations [Nov 30-Dec 6] in Lahore under the slogan Hum sub Bhutto hain (we all are Bhuttos). `Dar asl party tau abhi shuru hui hay! (In fact, it`s just start of the party),` he said in a lighter vein.

`Corruption charges against PPP never proved` He said Mr Ali should know that it was only the PPP that had time and again faced accountability. He recalle d that it was PML-N Ehtesab Bureau chairman Saifur Rehman who had led the alleged corruptionprobe against the PPP but history was witness to the fact that he had to apologise to [PPP co-chairman] Asif Ali Zardari later. `If the PPP is corrupt, then why the PML-N, which is ruling over the country, is not holding it accountable?` he argued.

Senator Dhamra said that the junior minister, Abid Sher Ali, must answer how and under what law he got 10 plots of the Police Foundation in Islamabad and why no action was taken despite certain disclosures by his father against [Punjab Law Minister] Rana Sanaullah. The judiciary should also take cognizance of it, he added.

The PPP leader alleged that presenting a letter written by a Qatari prince before the apex court was an attempt by the PML-N to divert people`s attention from real issues.

He observed that federal ministers were appearing more loyal than the king. He said that history was also witness to the fact that it was an attorney general of during the PML-N government who hadtalked to judges of the superior judiciary to discuss `punishment to PPP leadership`.

Mr Dhamra said the PPP believed that the ongoing spate of accusations against it was authorised by the prime minister himself.

SC order against CM adviser The senator said that while the judiciary had taken notice of [the appointment of] advisers in Sindh but no one questione d such appointments in the federal government where advisers and special assistants used to attend even cabinet meetings.

Speaking about the proposed 24th constitutional amendment, Senator Dhamra said that the PPP would oppose any amendment that was aimed at `countering probe in the backdrop of the Panamagate`.

He said that the PPP was now bringing the `Ehtesab bilP in the National assembly for an across the board accountability but starting with the prime minister`s family, because there were serious chargesagainst his children. `This bill includes all those clauses that were discussed by opposition parties for the terms of reference (ToRs) before the PTI opted for a solo flight over Panamgate probe,` he said.

Powers for LG representatives About the issue of powers for local government representatives in Sindh, Mr Dhamra said that the provincial finance commission had now been formed and all financial issues regarding local government institutions would be resolved soon. He said that the PPP wanted to empower LGs because the present local government law was passed by an elected house.

He said that PPP would not withdrawn from legitimate rights of provinces as far as the new NFC [National Finance Commission] award was concerned. The PPP, he said, wanted representation of provinces in various corporations and boards, that existed at the federal level, on an equality basis.