15 May 2004	Saturday	24 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

QUETTA, May 14: The president of the Pakistan People's Party, Balochistan, Nawabzada Lashkari Khan Raisani, on Friday warned the government that excesses committed against the party's candidates and leaders during the by-election in Karachi could lead to anarchy.

Speaking at a press conference at Sarawan House, he alleged that the government and intelligence agencies were using the administration to influence the election of the Bolan district nazim, scheduled for May 22.

He criticized President Gen Pervez Musharraf's policies aimed at sidelining the PPP leadership and maintained that the military ruler should not forget that his predecessor Ziaul Haq had failed to suppress the democratic movement led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

He said that if political and democratic process was discouraged, the people might adopt other means, that could push the country towards a civil war.

He condemned 'rigging' in the by-election for Malir's seat in the Sindh Assembly and alleged that PPP MPA Abdullah Murad Baloch was killed to give the seat to the MQM.

Nawabzada Raisani said PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto had convened a meeting of the party's provincial executive committee in London on June 17 to decide about the future course of action. He said Ms Bhutto would also meet the party leaders from other provinces.