September 22, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 14, 1423

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SAHIWAL, Sept 21: Supporters of a PML-Q candidate on Saturday allegedly demolished and set ablaze scores of houses in Nama Samoor labour colony after their inhabitants refused to vote for their candidate.

The attackers burnt three buffaloes besides causing a loss to valuables worth hundreds of thousands of rupees .

As part of an election campaign, the supporters of Malik Jalal Din Dhakkor came to Ramzan, Ghulam Farid and others, asking them to vote in favour of their candidate. On their refusal, the supporters, including Qasim, Kaali, Murtaza and Mansab, fell in a rage and ordered the labourers to vacate the locality. Later, they razed and set on fire a number of houses for not complying their orders. They also alleged to have dragged and thrashed some women, including Mumtaz Bibi, Akbar Bibi and Parveen Bibi. Afterwards, they escaped raising slogans in favour of their candidate.

Labourer Ramzan reported the matter to Harappa police which was yet to act.

DEATH TOLL: The death toll in the gas cylinder blast raised to two on Saturday.

The burn victim, Adnan, died in a hospital in Lahore on Saturday.

The gas cylinder had burst in the house of PPP leader Shah Nawaz Anjum on Monday in which six family members including Mr Anjum got burn wounds.

The four seriously injured were rushed to a Lahore hospital where Saima died on Friday while Adnan expired on Saturday. The condition of maid Irshad Bibi was stated to be serious.