KARACHI, Jan 24: The Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, has said that efforts were still continuing to field a combined candidate of opposition parties for contesting the by-election on NA-250 Karachi against the ruling coalition.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, he said the Sunni Tehrik (ST) was asked to support the PPP candidate, Nafees Ahmed Siddiqui, in the by-election and their (ST) Supreme Council would take a decision in this regard.

Flanked by the PPP candidate, Nafees Ahmed Siddiqi and ST leader Shahid Ghauri, Mr Khuhro said the provincial government was victimising the ST and its workers and leaders were being arrested in fabricated cases.

He told newsmen that to expose the provincial government’s partiality and the highhandedness of a partner in the ruling coalition, the PPP would soon convene an All Parties Conference.

Recalling the deadly incident on the eve of May 2004 by-elections in the metropolis, he said that there was a dire need to maintain peace and order on polling day (February 10).

The ST leader, Shahid Ghauri, lamented that almost one year had been passed but the culprits of the Nishtar Park tragedy had not been arrested. He maintained that the ST supreme council, which is meeting on Wednesday night, will decide to support any candidate for the by-election on NA-250.

Speaking on the occasion, PPP candidate Nafees Siddiqi said he had demanded change of polling day from February 10 to February 11 to ensure good turnout of voters.

He said he had also demanded that the EC post officials and staff belonging to the federal government at the polling stations to ensure free and transparent polling.