November 28, 2007	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 17, 1428

MITHI, Nov 27: The Pakistan People’s Party candidates on Tuesday criticised Pakistan Muslim League for ignoring minorities in Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar and accused former chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim of being involved in pre-polls rigging.

Mohammad Khan Lund, Engineer Gyanchand and Maeen Bajir, who have filed nomination forms against Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim for NA-229, PS-60 and PS-61 said at a press conference that the ruling party had ignored the minorities, who made 70 and 40 per cent of total population of Tharparkar and Mirpurkhas, in nominating candidates on reserved seats for minorities.

They alleged that the officials of the district administration of Tharparkar and taluka nazims arrived in government vehicles at the office of returning officer in Diplo on Nov 26 with the caravan of Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim for filing nomination papers of Arbab’s candidates. It was the beginning of pre-polls rigging, they said.

“PPP has fielded a non-local candidate Pesumal, whom the people of Thar do not know, against Arbab and we do not consider him a suitable contender,” they added.“Arbab’s rule was the darkest period for Thar and Sindh. He spared no attempt to send us behind bars and get us tortured. But the very fact strengthened our struggle,” they said and appealed to Benazir Bhutto to give due representation to minorities on reserved seats.

NOMINATIONS APPROVED: The returning officers in Diplo and Mithi declared the nomination forms filed by Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Arbab Haji Abdullah, Arbab Zulfiqar and Arbab Zakaullah for NA-229, PS-60 and PS-61, and of Bhooromal Kolhi for PS-62 as valid after carrying out scrutiny on Tuesday.