19 May 2004	Wednesday	28 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, May 18: Justice Mohammad Sadiq Leghari of the Sindh High Court, who is holding an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the May 12 by-elections in the city, recommended on Tuesday that the investigation might well be conducted by the Election Commission in view of its sensitive and high profile nature.

Justice Leghari, who is a member of the Election Commission, said he was aware of the statements being made in the press by the various political parties. One of the parties was not even participating in the inquiry, he said, alluding to the boycott by the Muttahida Majlis-I-Amal without naming it.

Referring the matter to Chief Election Commissioner, Irshad Hasan Khan, the former chief justice of Pakistan, who had assigned him the inquiry, Justice Leghari adjourned the proceedings indefinitely. Besides the CEC, the Election Commission consists of two high court judges from different provinces.

Advocate Agha Zafir Ali, who is representing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement at the inquiry, said the party had full confidence in his impartiality, fairness and competence.

"You are empowered to proceed and we request you to proceed", he submitted. The MQM and independent candidates present in the courtroom also assured the judge that they reposed full trust in him.

About the MQM complaints on the election day, the lawyer said they mostly related to incidents of violence outside the polling stations. Some of the complaints pertained to 'possible rigging'.

Both were promptly attended to by the administration officials and the election staff. Representing the PPP, Advocate Shahadat Awan submitted that the matter was for the judge to decide. He assured the commission of his cooperation.

REPORT: Additional Home Secretary Syed Anwar Haider submitted a report on behalf of the police and the home department in response to the commissions's directive of Monday.

The report, signed by the provincial chief secretary and submitted through Additional Advocate-General Sarwar Khan and Assistant Advocate-General Habib Ahmed, said, in all, eight people were killed in violence on May 12.

One MQM and two MMA men were killed in NA-240 while one MQM and four MMA workers were shot dead in NA-246. No death occurred in NA-243 or PS-127 though scores were injured in firing and after being hit by hard and blunt weapons in all the four constituencies.

At the request of the PPP counsel, the judge ordered that copies of the report be furnished to all those participating in the inquiry. The announcement of the final election results, which was stayed by the CEC while constituting a commission of inquiry, would continue to be withheld pending the probe, adjourned sine die on Tuesday.

EC meets on 20th

KARACHI, May 18: The Election Commission of Pakistan (EC) will meet on May 20 to further proceed with inquiry into alleged grave illegalities during the by-elections held on May 12 in Karachi.

In this regard, the EC issued notices to the home secretary of Sindh, the relevant district returning officer and returning officers and contesting candidates for the appearance before the commission on May 20, at 11.30am in the EC office, Islamabad. -PPI