August 17, 2005	Wednesday	Rajab 11, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) Secretary-General Raja Pervez Ashraf has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to issue a notice to Gen Pervez Musharraf for campaigning for the “King’s party” candidates if it wants to prove its impartiality in the local government polls.

Speaking at a news conference with MNA Syed Naveed Qamar and Nazir Dhoki here on Tuesday, the PPP secretary-general regretted that the party had submitted the proofs of pre-poll rigging to the ECP, but it took no action, proving that it was not acting impartially.

Mr Ashraf alleged that the government had started the worst type of political victimisation of PPP leaders and candidates, particularly in Sindh.

He said recently PPP MNAs from Sindh Pir Aftab Shah Jillani and Nawab Yousuf Talpur had survived attempts on their life.

Mr Ashraf also criticized Gen Pervez Musharraf’s statement that the PPP had lost support of the masses. He asked Gen Musharraf to tender an apology to the nation, as he had hurt the sentiments of millions of PPP supporters.

He challenged Gen Musharraf to contest election on any of the constituency wearing army uniform against an ordinary worker of PPP to test the party’s popularity.

PPP MNA Syed Naveed Qamar said police had registered a case against him, party MPAs and other leaders for taking out a rally in Hyderabad on the Independence Day. He said despite the fact that the party had directed its local body candidates to stay away from the rally, the police had mentioned the names of all Awam Dost candidates in the FIR.

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