20 June 2004	Sunday	01 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

LAHORE, June 19: Punjab PPP President Qasim Zia has accused the government of harassing party activists in connection with PP-156 bypoll, describing it as a pre-poll rigging bid.

He told reporters at a reception held for the newly elected Punjab Assembly's press gallery leaders here on Saturday that police inspectors were preparing lists of activists in the constituency on the orders of the high-ups. "They are also threatening the party workers saying they will do whatever their seniors want."

Alleging that SSP (investigations) Shafqat Ahmad was being used for the purpose, he warned the officials "not to act upon any illegal orders for any individual, party or the government itself."

Mr Zia also blamed the civil administration and the district government for using pressure tactics to manipulate bypolls for three PA seats in Bahawalpur. He asked the party workers to list down such officials so that they could be taken to task after the party was voted to power.

He said the government would be responsible for any chaos in case of reaction by the party to rigging and harassment.

Denying the impression that PML-N's Naseer Bhutta had been selected as a joint candidate of the ARD for PP-156 (Lahore), he said PPP nominee Ibad Qureshi was very much in the run for the seat.

Answering a question, he said Sughra Imam had resigned as minister to protest "inability, bad governance and helplessness of ministers."

He declined to comment on his discussion he had with Ms Imam during a meeting immediately after resignation. "It would be better if Ms Imam herself talk to the media."

Answering a question, Mr Zia said new elections were inevitable because the system had worsened. However, he stopped short of saying that the incumbent assemblies should be dissolved.

"Despite the worst kind of rigging in the general election, our utmost effort is to help the (existing) assemblies function. But the current political scenario says that new polls are unavoidable."

Provincial Information Secretary Naveed Chaudhry said Gen Musharraf was following the policies of the PPP. The party was happy that Gen Musharraf was now saying what chairperson Benazir Bhutto had said before 9/11 and for which she had also been tagged as traitor," he added.