ISLAMABAD, June 2: Former prime minister and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has condemned the arrest and harassment of Jam Saqi, and demanded that hounding of the Sindh social and political worker and his family should be stopped. Jam Saqi was arrested in Hyderabad last week on the allegation of possessing explosives. He was later released as the explosive charge was false.

Jam Saqi has accused the administration of arresting him only because he was pursuing the kidnap case of minority member Uttam Mengwar.

In a statement on Thursday, the former premier condemned the kidnapping of Mengwar and the arrest of Jam Saqi and asked the rulers to hold an inquiry and punish offenders.

She also asked the local administration not to bend over backwards in pleasing their political masters.

Meanwhile, a PPP spokesman has condemned the reign of terror let loose against political opponents by the chief minister in Tharparkar by implicating opposition activists in false cases.

“The Party demands an immediate end to reign of terror and political vendetta launched as part of the campaign to rig the elections”.

Giving details he said last week a PPP UC Nazim,

Mohan Lal, was arrested and implicated in a false case of corruption.

No sooner he was released on bail he was arrested again in another corruption case.

Another party supporter Muhammad Khan Lund, a local school teacher, was also arrested the previous day on the charge of possessing illegal arms. On Tuesday evening, another PPP supporter Arbab Murad Ali advocate, 80, was also arrested, he said.

The spokesman said this was part of the pre-poll rigging and urged the CEC to take notice of the incidents.

He said if such atrocities and reign of terror was not stopped and the PPP workers were denied a level playing field, the party would be forced to reconsider whether it was worth fighting elections.