ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: MNA and Central Coordinator of PPP's Human Rights Cell Fauzia Wahab has apprised the Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon of the victimization of political opponents and urged him to ask the government to refrain itself from suppressing the opposition.

Fauzia Wahab, in a letter to Don McKinnon, wrote that "The Musharraf regime is handing out punishments to political opponents contrary to the promises it made of good governance and respect for the rule of law."

"Those members of the opposition, who took part in the by- election held on August 18 to elect Shaukat Aziz, now prime minister, to parliament, are in particular facing the wrath of the government. Most farmers depend on water for their livelihood.

The regime is deliberately stopping the delivery of water to the agricultural holdings of opposition parliamentarians to cause them financial ruin. The water-channels of the lands belonging to two members of the National Parliament namely Pir Aftab Shah Jilani and Nawab Yousuf Talpur were closed down as revenge for their participation in the recent bye elections."

Pointing out a case of government's victimization, she wrote, "Even small farmers are punished for their political views. I bring to your attention the case of Bashir Mallah.

He has raised with the parliamentary opposition the difficulty he is facing given the vengeful act of the government in stopping water to his lands. Bashir Mallah lives in a small town of the southern province of Sindh, Khairpur Mirs, where he has his agricultural lands.

"During the general elections of 2002, he joined the PPP and actively worked for the local candidate. It came as a shock to him, when last year the irrigation department reduced the water timing for his agricultural lands. This year they punished him more severely. They disconnected the water supply channels to his land, depriving him of an honourable means of income.