24 April 2004	Saturday	03 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

BAHAWALPUR, April 23: PPP Parliamentarian divisional coordinator and MNA Mian Mumtaz Ahmad Matyana has reiterated massive rigging allegations during polling for NA-190 (Bahawalpur III) by-election on April 12.

Taking to newsmen here on Thursday night, Mr Matyana alleged that ballot papers were stamped by polling staff at gunpoint on several polling stations. He said a detailed rigging report was being submitted by the party to the election commission.

He severely criticized General Pervez Musharraf for price hike, unemployment, corruption and the deteriorating law and order situation. He said the president should take action against the corrupt ministers whom he had himself pointed out in the press conference in Islamabad.

Mr Matyana demanded that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif should be allowed entrance into the country to face cases, if any, against them. About PPP chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto, he said the time was not ripe for her to return to the country as her life was in danger.

He condemned government for forcing leaders of various parties to change their loyalties and support president in his anti-democratic actions. His party, he said, would continue its struggle for true democracy but would never bargain on principles. He said that Asif Zardari would not go out of the country under any deal with the government.

MURDER MYSTERY: Police claimed on Friday to have solved the mystery of disappearance of additional SP's reader Ismatullah Niazi, and arrested eight people, three women among them, on the charge of his murder.

The arrested people include Ms Kausar and her husband Ghulam Rasool, a proclaimed offender, who had a grudge against the deceased. Further investigation is under way.

FA/FSc EXAMS: The annual intermediate examination is starting at 83 centres in Bahawalpur and adjoining districts today (Saturday). Nearly 45,000 candidates are set to take the examination in the three districts.