1.
MV: Members of Executive Committee being greeted. (TWO SHOTS)
0.11

2.
MV: Mohammad Hanif Khan speaking to Maulana Kausar Niazi.
0.16

3.
MV: Executive committee member being greeted by Niazi.
0.19

4.
SV: Executive members seated.
0.22

5.
MV & CU: Mrs Bhutto seated.
0.30

6.
MV & SV: Executive committee members seated.
0.40



Initials JS/1735



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Former Pakistan premier Zulfidar Ali Bhutto has been released from prison on bail and says he is now planning a vigorous come-back in the elections scheduled for October 18th. During his absence his wife Mrs. Nusrat Bhutto has been acting head of her husband's Peoples' Party and presided over a meeting held shortly before her husband's release.

SYNOPSIS: The executive members of the Peoples' Party were meeting on Monday (12 September) in the absence of their leader, who was still in prison, following his arrest ten days ago in connection with a murder case. Mr. Bhutto was charged with being involved in the kidnapping of political opponents in 1974. His supporters say it was only an excuse to imprison their leader to prevent him campaigning in the forthcoming elections.

Mrs. Bhutto chaired the meeting which was called to discuss the predicament caused by her husband's arrest. But when he was released yesterday the next hearing in his case was fixed for October 24th - which will allow him to continue his election campaign in the meantime.