23 May 2004	Sunday	03 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KHAIRPUR, May 22: Irshad Jilani of the Khairpur Dost Panel was elected district naib nazim on Saturday according to unofficial results of the by-election.

Securing 947 votes, she beat People's Party Parliamentarians- backed Awam Dost Panel's Sher Mohammad Phulpoto who obtained 578 votes.

Mumtaz Kanhar of the KDP was elected Kingri Taluka Naib Nazim by grabbing 123 votes and beating the ADP's Nouman Baloch who obtained only 73 votes.

The by-elections for the seats of the district and taluka naib nazims were held in a peaceful way.

Polling stations for the district naib nazim seat were set up in eight talukas of the district whereas those for the taluka naib nazim post at the government Degree College, Pir-jo-Goth.

Rangers and police were deployed in and around polling stations.

People's Party Parliamentarians MPAs Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Naeem Kharal as well as other party leaders remained busy in mustering support for Mr Phulpoto.

Mrs Jilani was backed by Syed Javed Ali Shah Jilani in Khairpur city and MPA Rafiq Bhambhan monitored her campaign across the district.

ADP Nazim of Shadi Shaheed union council Faqir Sher Ali told newsmen that the in charge, Sathio police post, had harassed him and six other councillors, threatening them not to come out of their houses to cast votes.