18 August 2004	Wednesday	01 Rajab 1425

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KARACHI, Aug 17: The Chief Minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, on Tuesday vowed to maintain law and order during the by- election in constituency NA-229, Tharparker-I, where polling is being held on Wednesday.

The chief minister, who was talking to reporters in his chambers after Tuesday's session of the Sindh Assembly, recalled that the Army and the Rangers were called out along the police to maintain law and order and to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.

In reply to a question, he said that display of arms was prohibited and anyone found indulged in it would be taken to task, whosoever he may be; even his own party men would not be spared.

He said that he would visit the area on Wednesday to cast his vote. He added that he would not enter any other polling station except the one where his vote was registered.

Referring to the detention of certain members of the opposition, he said the leader of opposition in Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro, had indulged in display of arms in Tharparker on Monday which was in violation of Section 144, and its due notice was taken by the nazim there.

PPP-MPA Sassi Palejo was accompanied by private armed guards, who were stopped by the police and Nawab Wasan, brother of PPP leader Manzoor Wasan, was also stopped by the police for carrying a licensed weapon.

He made it clear that no one would be allowed to disturb the peaceful polling, be it from opposition or the ruling party. Mr Arbab said that the session was convened after it was requisitioned by the opposition, so that if the opposition had any grievances, it could be taken up in the house to redress them. Regarding the outcome of the by-election, Dr Arbab Rahim said he was optimistic that Shaukat Aziz would win comfortably from Tharparker.