01 October 2004	Friday	15 Shaban 1425

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HYDERABAD, Sept 30: The Sindh chapter of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy has decided to boycott the Tharparkar by-elections to be held on Oct 7 and observe Oct 12 as a 'black day'.

The decision to this effect was taken in the ARD meeting held here on Wednesday night. The Sindh president of the alliance, Zain Ansari, presided over the meeting, which was attended by the provincial president of the People's Party Parliamentarians, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Basharat Mirza, Mufti Ferozuddin Hazarvi, Sardar Raheem, Moula Bux Chandio, Sagheer Qureshi, MPA Zahid Bhurgari, Afzal Gujjar and Mir Fateh Talpur.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Zain Ansari said the recent by-election for NA-227 (Tharparkar) had broken all previous records of rigging. He said PML candidate Shaukat Aziz had pooled more votes than Arbab Zakaullah, the nephew of the Sindh Chief Minister, Arbab Ghulam Raheem.

He said that this was despite the fact that the people of Tharparkar had migrated to the barrage areas due to drought. e said there was no possibility of holding transparent and fair elections in the forthcoming by-elections.

He said it was on Oct 12 that the democratic government of Nawaz Sharif, which enjoyed the two-third majority in parliament, was removed at gun point. He said that Oct 12 would be observed as a black day every year.

Mr Ansari said the MMA had committed a historic mistake by allowing Gen Pervez Musharraf to continue wearing uniform for one year. He said the MMA owed an apology to the nation.

He said the uniform issue was irrelevant for the ARD as it would not accept him as the President even without uniform adding that the nation also would not accept any referendum on this issue.

He said the Kalabagh dam was unacceptable to the people. He said the lawlessness especially the tribal feuds were extremely dangerous and added that the situation could lead to civil strife.

He did not agree with a questioner that the ARD was not in a position to start a movement against the rulers as it had no street power. He claimed that the ARD was hesitant to bring the people on the roads because it did not want any confrontation between the people and the army.