August 28, 2002	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Saani 18,1423

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GUJRANWALA, Aug 27: The PML-N received a setback when two groups led by former federal ministers, Ghulam Dastagir Khan and Barrister Usman Ibrahim, filed the nomination papers of their associates against one another.

A survey conducted by this correspondent on Tuesday revealed that the party’s parliamentary board allotted tickets to Usman Ibrahim for NA-95 and to Ghulam Dastagir’s son Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan for NA-96. Both the candidates filed their papers a couple of days back.

Meanwhile, the government extended the last date for filing of papers. Former Mayor Ghulam Qadir Khan, the brother of Ghulam Dastagir Khan, filed his papers against Usman Ibrahim for NA-95. Reacting to it, Mr Ibrahim also filed his nomination papers the same day for NA-96, a constituency of Khurram Dastagir.

Meanwhile, PML-N’s two old rivals, Usman Ibrahim and former MPA S.A. Hameed, reconciled with each other and announced that they would jointly launch election campaign.

Mr Hameed had already filed his nomination paper for NA-96 against Khurram Dastagir Khan who also submitted his nomination for PP-39, where S.A. Hameed’s son was an aspirant.

Talking to newsmen, Khurram Dastagir claimed his party would bear the palm provided the election would be transparent.

He refuted the claim that the PML-N high-ups were involved in corruption.

At least 230 candidates of various parties and independent groups filed their nomination papers. Of those, two are barristers, three doctors, two engineers, 52 law graduates, 15 MScs, 23 BScs, 75 graduates and five Dars-i-Nizami of Wafaqul Madaris.

PLUNDER: Robbers plundered cash and valuables worth hundreds of thousands of rupees and drove away with two motorcycles in four strikes here on Tuesday.

Reports said a coaster (LHO-9655) was on its way to Hafizabad when three robbers, in guise of passengers, boarded it near Mandiala. One of them held up the crew and others collected cash, gold ornaments and wrist watches worth Rs88,800 from the passengers and escaped.

Ladheywala police have registered a case.

At least six robbers stormed into one Muhammad Sharif’s shop at Allama Chowk bypass, tied him with rope and took away food items worth Rs115,000.

Meanwhile, Riaz Ahmad Khan of Model Town and Naveed Khan of Lahori Gate were deprived by some robbers of their motorcycles.

ORDERS: District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Asad Raza on Tuesday ordered demolition of 20 shops constructed illegally on Wazirabad old tehsil kutchery’s premises.

Reports said the judge visited Wazirabad tehsil kutchery and expressed concern over running of illegal shops.

He sought report from the tehsil municipal administration and ordered immediate demolition of these shops.