July 11, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 25, 1428

THATTA, July 10: The president of Sindh chapter of People’s Party Parliamentarians, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, said on Tuesday that the Election Commission of Pakistan had started pre-polls rigging by leaving thousands of genuine voters out of new electoral rolls.

He said at the celebrations marking the birthday of party chairperson Benazir Bhutto that his party would not boycott the elections but would prefer to face the rulers.

He said that the present rulers had pushed the province to the brink of destruction.

The heavy rains and ensuing floods displaced had thou-

sands of people in Qambar-Shahdadkot and Dadu districts but the government had taken no rescue and relief measures so far.

A number of activists did not participate in the birthday programme due to differences between two groups of party workers. Many speakers were critical of the opponents.

A leader of Peoples’ Hari Committee, Peroze Zangiani, criticised MPA Humera Alwani and demanded that the party should not award her ticket in the next elections.

He further charged that former MPA, Ghulam Qadir Palijo’s activities had tainted the party image. Jan Mohammad Thaheem said that they were facing difficulties in party work after differences cropped up between the two groups.

PPP Sujawal President Mohsin Sindhi said that the workers wanted assurance that the party's doors would remain closed on Shirazi brothers in next general elections.

Kharochhan President Hamzo Marghar said that Sassui Palijo should not be awarded party ticket as she and her father Ghulam Qadir did not accept Syed Qaim Ali Shah and the provincial leadership.

Former MNA, Babu Ghulam Hussain, said that the people who were opposing the district leadership enjoyed support of some hidden hands within and outside the party.

Arbab Wazir Ahmed Memon said that seat vacated by Sassui Palijo should be handed over to Imtiaz Qureshi, who he said, had laid down sacrifices for the party.

Later, Qaim Ali Shah inaugurated the party’s media cell.

STRIKE: Doctors and paramedical staff of the Makli Civil Hospital observed a token hunger strike for two hours on Tuesday in protest against manhandling of a blood bank technician and a doctor.

The protesting doctors and hospital staff later formed an action committee, which, they said, would formulate strategy for the protest drive.

RELIEF TEAM: Dewan Farooq Trust has sent a medical team to the rain- and flood-affected areas of Balochistan, Qambar-Shahdadkot and coastal areas of Thatta, says the trust manager, Imran Ahmed, on Tuesday.

The affected people were being provided medicine, food, ration and other relief goods, he said.