NAWABSHAH, May 8: The Deputy Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly, Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman, has said that Pakistan People’s Party will never accept General Musharraf as president with or without uniform and termed rumours of a deal baseless.

Talking to newsmen at the local press club on Tuesday, Makhdoom Jamil said that his party was struggling for the restoration of democracy and revival of Constitution in its true spirit, adding that the PPP would never strike a deal with the dictator.

He further said that the MMA supported President Musharraf by accepting LFO and voting in favour of 17th amendment.

He said that PPP workers were being tortured and arrested in Lahore, Karachi and other parts of the country which itself negated rumours of any deal.

He said that federal ministers Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed and Mohammed Ali Durrani were spreading disinformation by distorting statement of Ms Bhutto to create confusion in the ranks and file of ARD.

He further said that if President Musharraf could be elected for four times then why not Benazir. He predicted that PPP would sweep the forthcoming general elections with a thumbing majority and Benazir Bhutto would be elected prime minister for the third time.

To a question, he said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's proposed rally on May 12 was a conspiracy to destroy peace which could result in a mayhem.

He said that PPP always supported an independent judiciary and ARD would welcome the Chief Justice during his visit to Karachi.He said that his party was against permanent deployment of Rangers in Sindh as 25 per cent of the budget was being spent on them and “they had also occupied buildings and properties throughout Sindh and were a burden on the economy of the province”.

He said that the provincial police force could be improved by spending the same budget on them.

Answering another question, he said the statement of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz regarding emergency was result of public pressure and PML was looking for ways to wriggle out of the current crisis through imposition of emergency.

Earlier talking with the PPP workers at hunger strike camp set up outside local press club against the District Coordination Officer of Nawabshah, he said that it was basic right of people to protest. He further said that the bureaucracy was creating hurdles in the ways of the elected representatives.

He said District Nazim Faryal Talpur was an elected representative and condemned the behaviour of the DCO towards her.

He warned that PPP would take stern action against such officials after coming into power with people’s support and demanded removal of DCO from the district.