October 11, 2002	Friday	Sha'aban 4, 1423

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THATTA, Oct 10: The polling was marred by reports of rigging, terror tactics, aerial firing, kidnappings of polling agents, thrashing of a provincial assembly candidate in Thatta district on Thursday.

A candidate from PS-86, Haji Shams Memon, was reportedly thrashed by the sons of the former MNA, Ahmed Memon, at Nodo Baran village, after he objected to the strong arm tactics of the Shirazi group.

Meanwhile, the PPP candidate from PS-87, Pir Ghulam Rehmani, accused his rivals, including the chief of Jati tribe, Ghulam Qadir Malkani, of forcibly taking five of his polling agents away from a polling station in the coastal settlement of Raj Malik.

Ghulam Qadir Malkani has fielded his brother Haji Usman Malkani, who is favouring the Shirazi group.

A team of journalists visited almost all the seven constituencies in the district.

These constituencies stretch right from Jhoke Sharif to the last coastal settlement of Raj Malik — the native village of the chief of the Jati tribe, Ghulam Qadir Malkani — and from Sakro to Keti Bunder.

The polling was also suspended at polling stations in Mehmooda Wah village in PS-86 and Taj Mohammad Abbassi village in Thatta after clashes between supporters of rival candidates.

Meanwhile, the PPP candidate from NA-237 (Thatta-I) accused the Shirazi men of kidnapping his polling agents.

Abdul Wahid Soomro also accused the provincial minister for irrigation, Syed Aijaz Ali Shah Shirazi, of stamping ballot papers at the polling stations in Ramzan and Usman Hajib villages.

Similar complaints were received from polling station in Bukhari Mohalla near Thatta town.

Reports of beating up rivals were also received from Saleh Mohammad village, Karnani.

Violence was also reported from Islampur Mohalla.

A PPP candidate from PS-84, Babu Ghulam Hussain, and a candidate for NA-237 (Thatta-I), Dr Wahid Soomro, accused the district Nazim, Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi, of stamping ballot papers in polling stations at Saeedpur, Ibrahim Barran etc.

Candidates and supporters of various parties reported incidents of rigging from Shah Bunder, Sakro, Ghorabari, Bannu and Jhoke Sharif.

The turnout, according to initial reports, was not more than 20 and 28 per cent.

SINDH GOVERNOR: Governor Sindh Mohammedmian Soomro landed at Makli on Thursday to monitor the polls in Thatta district.

Talking to newsmen here, he said that the government was striving to conduct free, fair and impartial polls.

Soomro warned against any disruption in the polling process.

Later, he visited polling stations in Steel Town Makli, the Govt Degree College, Makli, Shaheed Unar Maternity Home.

He said that a commission has been formed to scan facts about interference in the polling process by the Nazims.