KARACHI, Oct 16: Leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party appeared confident on Tuesday that party chairperson Benazir Bhutto will get a historic welcome on her return to the country. They said they expected more than one million people to take to the streets on Thursday to welcome her home.

Addressing a news conference at the Karachi Press Club, Sindh PPP chief Syed Qaim Ali Shah reiterated that there was no change in the schedule of Ms Bhutto’s arrival. However, he expressed concern for her security and over what he termed threatening remarks made by the chief ministers of Sindh and Punjab.

Aftab Shaaban Mirani, provincial general secretary Nafees Siddiqui, Senator Babar Awan, Nawab Yusuf Talpur, Syed Murad Ali Shah and Rashid Rabbani were also present on the occasion.

“In the cause for democracy, the rule of law and the supremacy of parliament, neither Ms Bhutto nor the PPP is intimidated by such tactics or the threat of arrest,” Mr Shah stated.

“They claim to have received reports about threats but if that is the case, the security task becomes simpler. If one knows in advance where the danger is coming from, the information can be systematically followed to eliminate the threat.”

The PPP leader said that his party was taking steps to prevent any untoward incident, but pointed out that the safety of the former prime minister was also the responsibility of the government.

He said a procession would take the PPP chairperson to the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam where she would pay her respects to the father of the nation and address a public gathering.

He said special attention was being given to ensure security on the vehicle (a special truck with security shield) as well as along the route of the ‘caravan of democracy’. The PPP security team had even measured the height of every bridge on the route and had also taken into account the billboards that might create problem. From the Quaid’s mausoleum she will go to Bilawal House, he added.

Mr Shah claimed that massive mobilisation of PPP workers across Sindh and in other parts of the country had frightened the rulers who, he said, were spreading rumours about a change in her programme and were attacking party rallies in some parts of the province and elsewhere.

He condemned an attack on a PPP procession in Sanghar and warned the rulers of ‘dire consequences’.

He criticised an order issued by the Sindh chief minister for removal of PPP flags and billboards and alleged that the firing on the rally in Sanghar had been carried out at his behest. He also criticised the Punjab chief minister for imposing section 144 in Multan and Rahim Yar Khan.

Ms Bhutto has been living abroad, mostly in London and Dubai, since April 1999. Her bid to return to the country and contest elections in 2002 was blocked by the Musharraf regime.