October 4, 2002	Friday	Rajab 26, 1423

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SHIKARPUR, Oct 3: A central leader of the People’s Party Parliamentrians, Aftab Shahban Mirani, has said that the public meetings of the Sindh governor, Mohammedmian Soomro, in which he has asked the people to support the government-backed candidates, have exposed Islamabad’s claim of holding fair elections.

Mr Mirani is contesting election from NA-202 (Shikarpur-I).

The PPP leader was speaking at a news conference at his residence here on Wednesday.

He said the governor also attended receptions, arranged in his honour by the “official” candidates, during his visits to different districts.

He accused the governor of openly violating rules of Election Commission by launching a campaign for the government-backed candidates under directives of the “high-ups”.

He expressed concern over the establishment polling stations in troubled areas and appointment of partisan polling officers in Shikarpur district.

He deplored the attack on a PPP worker and removal of party flags by the activists of the Sindh Democratic Alliance and the National People’s Party.

Mirani appealed the chief election commissioner to take notice of the complaints to ensure free and transparent elections in the district.

TUNIO WITHDRAWS: Following the adjustment on seats between the National Alliance (NA) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), a joint candidate of the Sindh Democratic Alliance and the NA, Saleem Akhtar Tunio, announced his withdrawal from PS-41 (Larkana) in favour of a PML-Q-backed candidate, Allah Bukhsh Unnar, at the Shaikh House on Thursday.

Mr Tunio announced his decision at a press conference in the presence of the SDA chief, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh.

Speaking at the press conference, Imtiaz Shaikh and Maqbool Shaikh claimed that the PML-Q, Sindh President, Ghaus Bukhsh, was not sincere with the terms of the Alliance and was violating party decisions.

Mr Imtiaz advised him to honour the decisions made between the PML (Q) and the SDA to contest the general elections under the Alliance.

Provincial Organizer PML-Q Maqbool Ahmed Shaikh, Sardar Altaf Hussain Unnar, PML-Q Central Joint Secretary Ghulam Mustafa Bhutto, Aijaz Khokhar, and others were also present on the occasion.