Zardari addresses PPP rally in Thatta

Karachi, Feb 9: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari today hit the campaign trail for the first time since the December 27, 2007 assassination of his wife and former premier Benazir Bhutto.

According to the Dawn, thousands of people attended the PPP rally in Thatta, in rural Sindh, which was organised amid tight security. Over 2,000 police were deployed at the venue of the meeting. PPP guards were also on hand to protect the gathering and party leaders, the paper said. The paper quoted Thatta police chief Daud Junejo as saying that no chances are being taken in so far as the security of the PPP leaders and workers in concerned.

Banners proclaiming "long live Bhutto", "democracy is the best revenge," and the tri-colour PPP flags were visible across the venue.

Meanwhile, according to The News, the army will be deployed in sensitive areas of Sindh province by February 12.

The paper quoted Sindh's caretaker Home Minister Brigadier (retired) Akhtar Zamin as saying that the provincial government would take all possible steps to hold February 18 elections in fair and peaceful atmosphere.

Zamin is said to have conveyed this to Turkey's Consul General Erdem Mutaf who called on him at his office.

He said that foreign observers would be allowed to go to everywhere with security cover.

He also confirmed that the security of Asif Ali Zardari, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Liaquat Jatoi has been beefed up in anticipation of the polls.

ANI