Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto on Monday ruled out any more power-sharing talks with President General Pervez Musharraf while vowing to press ahead with the ‘Long March’ planned for Tuesday. “We are saying no to any more talks,” Bhutto told reporters here. “We cannot work with anyone who has suspended the Constitution, imposed emergency rule, and oppressed the judiciary. That’s why we are holding the ‘long march’.” According to AFP, Bhutto welcomed Musharraf’s promise to hold elections before January 9 but said they could not be free and fair if held under emergency rule. Boycott an option: “Boycotting the election is an option with us,” she said. “The decision to impose an emergency and not to quit his military uniform has led to a breakdown of talks between us and the Musharraf regime,” she added. She said the ‘Long March’ was not a political rally, but a “march by the people against the tyrants and nobody dares stop it.”
“We appeal to all people, including those from other parties and minorities, women and children, to take part in this long march,” she said, reported Reuters.