The following Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders are found at the federal level: Benazir Bhutto is (PPP) chairperson (Dawn 16 July 1997; ibid. 23 Apr. 1997); Mian Misbahur Rehman is party leader (ibid.); Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao is senior vice president of PPP and was former chief minister of NWFP (ibid. 22 Aug. 1997); Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar is PPP secretary general (The News International 11 July 1997; Dawn 16 July 1997); Haji Nawaz Khokhar is central information secretary (ibid.) and Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan is the leader of the opposition in the senate (ibid. 23 Apr. 1997).

In Punjab, Rao Sikandar Iqbal is PPP president (Dawn 16 July 1997) and Munir Ahmad Khan is provincial information minister (ibid.; ibid. 23 Apr. 1997). Although Bhutto appointed Sahibzada Nazir Sultan to position of PPP secretary general for Punjab, the PPP became divided over this choice (Dawn 16 July 1997). PPP president for the Sialkot district is Ghulam Abbas (Dawn 16 July 1997).

In Sindh, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro is PPP chief and leader of the opposition in the provincial assembly (Dawn 7 July 1997; The News International 7 May 1997).

Additional names for PPP leaders could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

In the PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) party, Ghinwa Bhutto is chairperson; Rao Rashid is secretary general; Qazi Shafiq Mahesar is deputy secretary general; Ghani Dars is treasurer; Dr. Mubash'shir Hasan is president for Punjab; Begum Shehzada Suleiman is president for NWFP and Junaid Soomro is president for Sindh (The News International 29 Apr. 1997). Additional names for PPP (SB) leaders could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
According to the Karachi daily Dawn attachment of 28 April 1997, leaders of 14 political parties, including the PPP (ZAB group) entered into a political alliance.

Information on the organizational structure of the PPP could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

For a list of PPP senators and MNAs elected in 1997, please consult the attached list that was downloaded on 8 October 1997 from the official PPP Internet Web site (http://www. ppp-pak.com/).

Please find attached a copy of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) manifesto in its entirety that was downloaded on 7 October 1997 from the PPP Internet Web page (http://www.pakcyber.com/ppp/), which was accessed via the "Political Parties, Interest Groups and Other Social Movements" Web site (http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/po/ parties.htm) and on 8 October 1997 directly from the PPP official website (http://www. ppp-pak.com/). The manifesto provides the following information:Introduction

Chapter 1: Government

A. Some Major Legislative Achievements 1993-96

- Separation of the Executive and the Judiciary

- Constitutional Reforms

B. Major Legislative Agenda 1997-2002

- Human Rights

- VIP Culture

Chapter 2: The Economy

The Review of last Peoples Government's Economic Performance

A. Major Economic Achievements 1993-96

B. Economic Agenda 1997-2002

- Social Safety Net

- Debt Crisis and its Solution

Chapter 3: Agriculture and Irrigation

A. Major Agriculture Achievements 1993-96

B. Agriculture Agenda 1997-2002

Chapter 4: Health

A. Major Achievements in the Health Sector 1993-96

B. Health Agenda for 1997-2002

Chapter 5: Education

A. Major Achievements in the Education Sector 1993-96

B. Education Agenda 1997-2002 Onwards

Chapter 6: Employment

A. Employment Achievements 1993-96

1. Employment through the public sector

2. Employment through the private sector especially through foreign investment

3. Special programme for training in technical trades and domestic services

4. Employment through self employment

5. Employment through export of labour

B. Employment Agenda for 1997-2002

Chapter 7: Labour

A. Achievements in Labour 1993-96

1. Task force on social security

2. Houses for workers

B. Labour Agenda 1997-2002

Chapter 8: Women

A. Women's Rights & Development Achievements 1993-1996

1. Strengthening of institutional framework

2. Shifting of emphasis from welfare oriented development to skill development

3. First of its kind in South Asia

4. Law, security & health

5. Planning & development division

B. Women's Rights & Development Agenda 1997-2002

1. Political participation & representation

2. Employment

3. Violence

4. Legal Rights

5. Water

6. Control and ownership of resources

7. Agriculture

8. NGOs and experts in women's development

9. Sports for women

10. Contribution from the government of Pakistan to the Organization of Women Parliamentarians from Muslim Countries (OWMPC)

11. Integration

Chapter 9: Population Planning

Population planning

A. Major Achievements of the Population Welfare Programme

B. Population Agenda for 1997-2002

Chapter 10: Children & Bonded Labour

A. Major Achievements in the Child and Bonded Labour Sector 1993-96

B. Child and Bonded Labour Agenda 1997-2002

Chapter 11: Big City Renewal

A. Big City Achievements

B. Big City Agenda 1997-2002

Chapter 12: Privatization

A. Privatization Achievements 1993-96

- Notable privatizations 1993-96

- PTC

- Power Sector (WAPDA)

B. Privatization Agenda 1997-1998

Chapter 13: National Defence

A. Major Achievements in Defence 1993-1996

B. Agenda for Defence 1997-2002

Chapter 14: Foreign Policy

Chapter 15: Minorities

Agenda for Minorities

Chapter 16: Environment

Chapter 17: Science and Technology

Chapter 18: Culture

- Culture

- Literature

- Languages

Conclusion

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Dawn: The Internet Edition [Karachi]. 22 August 1997. "Qazi's Arrest Triggers Protest and Arrests." [Internet] [Accessed 22 Aug. 1997]

_____. 16 July 1997. Mahmood Zaman. "Tussle Over Appointment of Secretary Splits PPP." [Internet] [Accessed 16 July 1997]

_____. 7 July 1997. "Police Arrest Over 300 Political Activists." [Internet] [Accessed 7 July 1997]

_____. 28 April 1997. "14 Parties to Form Alliance." [Internet] [No access date]

_____. 23 April 1997. "Benazir Opposes Withdrawal of Cases Against MQM Men." [Internet] [No access date]

The News International [Karachi]. 11 July 1997. "Mukhtar for Lifting Ban on 'Musawaat'." [Internet] [Accessed 11 July 1997]

_____. 7 May 1997. "PML(N) Women Attack Pasban." [Internet] [No access date]

_____. 29 April 1997. "PPP (SB) to Reorganize Party." [Internet] [No access date]

Attachments

Dawn: The Internet Edition [Karachi]. 16 July 1997. Mahmood Zaman. "Tussle Over Appointment of Secretary Splits PPP." [Internet] [Accessed 16 July 1997]

_____. 28 April 1997. "14 Parties to Form Alliance." [Internet] [No access date]

_____. 23 April 1997. "Benazir Opposes Withdrawal of Cases Against MQM Men." [Internet] [No access date]

The News International [Karachi]. 29 April 1997. "PPP (SB) to Reorganize Party." [Internet] [No access date]

Pakistan Peoples Party [Islamabad]. n.d. "Senators of Pakistan Peoples Party (1997)" and "Member of National Assembly of Pakistan Peoples Party." [Internet] [Accessed 8 Oct. 1997]

_____. n.d. "Pakistan Peoples Party: Follow the Arrow into the Asian Century: Manifesto." [Internet] [Accessed 7 Oct. 1997] and [Accessed 8 Oct. 1997]

Additional Sources Consulted

Resource Centre. "Pakistan: Amnesty International" country file. January 1997-present.

_____. "Pakistan" country file. January 1997-present.