December 05, 2007	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 24, 1428

KHAIRPUR, Dec 4: Sindh PPP President Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that free and fair elections are not possible in the present situation where judiciary is in crisis, issue of sacked judges remains unresolved, administration is partial and close relatives of the caretaker prime minister and ministers are contesting polls.

He was speaking at a lunch meeting hosted for the US Consul General in Karachi, Kay Anske, at his residence here on Tuesday.

He told the US official that Pakistan is an important ally in its war against terrorism, therefore, the US must ensure that policy making and institutional set-up in Pakistan accommodate the wishes of people of the country.

Mr Shah said that the PPP was taking part in the elections under a protest. He added that people of Sindh were being harassed and government employees were being transferred and pressurised to cast vote against the PPP.

He further added that district nazim Khairpur and taluka nazims were electioneering for PPP opponent candidates. He said that Nara taluka has a history of casting bogus votes and rigging.

He added that in the said area the voters’ turnout remained more than the population of the taluka because people from other districts were brought in to cast bogus votes.

He further said that some polling stations in Nara taluka were set up at places where there was no population.

The US consul general later visited Kotdiji fort. She expressed keen interest in it and obtained information about the fort from local experts. She also visited Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur and met with Vice-Chancellor Dr Neelofar Shaikh.