26 January 2005	Wednesday	15 Zilhaj 1425

LAHORE, Jan 25: PPP leader Qasim Zia has accused the provincial government of giving a free hand to police for coercing opposition MPAs into changing loyalties.

He was speaking at a press conference at his Punjab Assembly chambers here on Tuesday to condemn raid of the Elite Force at PPP MPA Dr. Asad Moazzam's office in Faisalabad.

Dr. Moazzam would move a privilege motion against the police while the opposition would also protest in the house, he said. "If a public representative is not safe from police high-handedness, then imagine the condition of masses under this set-up."

He belied the government's claim that the guilty police officials had been suspended. "No such action has so far been taken as Dr. Moazzam has told us on phone." He alleged that the police raids were aimed at coercing opposition representatives to join the ruling PML like in the case of MPA Khalid Wattoo for improving government's position in the forthcoming local bodies elections.

He demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and suspension of the raiding police officials. Punjab PPP information secretary Naveed Chaudhry was also present during the press conference.

WANA OPERATIONS: Expressing concern at deteriorating law and order situation, PPP's Lahore Coordination Committee (LCC) has condemned army operations in Wana, Gilgit and Balochistan.

Briefing reporters after a meeting of the committee here on Tuesday, party's federal council secretary-general Khalid Kharal said the body feared that the army operations might result in change of the country's map like 1971 when another army ruler, Gen Yahya Khan, was holding sway in the country.

It observed that military operations were solutions to no problems and the government should instead initiate dialogue process for settling various issues. The body was of the opinion that only an elected government could deal with the issues being faced by the country and demanded that Gen Musharraf should quit for holding fair and transparent elections under a neutral national government.

Mr Kharal said masses in the Punjab would put up resistance against any army operation in Balochistan. He also told reporters that the PPP would contest local body polls under the banner of Awam Dost Group.

However, electoral adjustments would be made with 'like-minded' parties. It also announced its support for PML-N nominee Naseer Bhutta in NA-127 by-polls and warned the government of any rigging attempts.