September 23, 2002	Monday	Rajab 15, 1423

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FAISALABAD, Sept 22: Police raided the houses of PPP supporters and rounded up over a dozen men from Chak No 66 JB and its adjoining areas on Sunday.

A heavy police contingent had on Saturday raided the central election office of PPP’s candidate for NA-81 Dr Nisar Ahmad to trace “proclaimed offenders, recover illegal arms, narcotics, and find clue to a dacoity.”

Raiding team in charge DSP Hameed Khan Niazi had told Dawn that no objectionable material, illegal weapon or any wanted person was found from the place.

Dr Nisar is a son-in-law of local PPP leader and former MNA Chaudhry Muhammad Ilyas.

Later, police started raiding the houses of the supporters and sympathizers of Chaudhry Ilyas in adjoining villages of Chak No 66 JB and arrested Khizar, Ilyas, Dawood

Masih, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Sohail, Muhammad Asif and others.

Special police squad have intensified patrol in the area. A number of pickets have also been set up on all roads and streets leading to Chak No 66 JB. No vehicle or person can enter the village without thorough search and checking.

Police term it an attempt to nab the hardened criminals who took shelter in the village after committing robberies and dacoities in Faisalabad and its adjoining areas.

However, Dr Nisar Ahmad claimed the villagers were being taught a lesson for not supporting PML-QA candidate Talib Husain who could not make a ground in the constituency despite all out support of the police and other government functionaries.

He alleged that the police were forcing the people of the area to remove flags, posters, badges and election symbols of the PPP.