September 27, 2002	Friday	Rajab 19, 1423

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LAHORE, Sept 26: Condemning the terror attacks on Christians, two PPP candidates have announced that they would suspended their election campaign for one day to show solidarity with the community.

Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, PPP nominee for NA-125 Prof Ijazul Hasan and for PP-154 Munir Ahmad Khan held the army government responsible for the rising lawlessness in the country.

They regretted that even the chief of the army staff felt himself insecure, a phenomenon that has appeared for the first time in the history of the country.

Both the candidates invited the attention of the Election Commission towards use of wealth by their rivals and influencing the councillors by either offering them cash or using official pressure.

They alleged that PML-QA’s Abdul Aleem Khan had so far spent at least Rs150 million on publicity and provision of transport to various individuals.

They said various development schemes were also being initiated for the advantage of the PML-QA candidates.

They also condemned Pakistan Awami Tehrik chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, another candidate from NA-127, for using students of his party’s educational institutions for his electioneering.

Mr Qadri, they said, was also indulging in overspending by hiring foreign consultants for his image building and using precious state-of-the-art electronic equipment at his election offices in the constituency.

They urged the EC to take notice of the violations by their rivals.

Both the candidates also condemned the Punjab governor for inaugurating various development projects in the presence of PML-QA nominees.

They demanded the EC restrain Governor Khalid Maqbool to the Governor’s House and warned Mr Maqbool that people might react to his interference in the electioneering.

They also complained that district Nazim Mian Amir Mahmood was also attending election meetings of the PML-QA candidates.

Saying both Mr Aleem and Mr Qadri stood disqualified for violating election code of ethics, they demanded the EC initiate formal action in this regard.