January 02, 2008	Wednesday	Zilhaj 22, 1428

PESHAWAR, Jan 1: Tension between the Awami National Party and the Pakistan People’s Party in the provincial capital aggravated after the registration of a case against two PPP candidates of national and provincial assemblies.

The FIR was registered on Dec 29 by Hashtnagri police against PPP candidate for NA-1 Syed Ayub Shah and Mohammad Iqbal Mohmand, who is contesting for PF-3. They face charges of ransacking the premises of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry under Sections 436, 427, 379, 147 and 148 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 141 of Islamic laws.

During a procession brought out in protest against the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, some people had pelted stones on the SCCI building on the Grand Trunk Road and offices of the Bilour Industries, which are situated on the same premises.

The complainant, Jehanzeb, lodged the case on behalf of the Bilour brothers, stating that Mr Shah and Mr Mohmand were responsible for the attack on their offices.

The rivalry between the two parties begun in 1997 when the ANP’s senior vice-president Haji Bilour charged former provincial minister of the PPP, Qamar Abbas, and his two guards with the murder of his son Shabir Bilour. Shabir was shot dead in Yakatuth area during by-election for NA-1. Mr Abbas also suffered bullet injuries and was arrested from a hospital.

He remained in prison till his acquittal in 2000. He was shot dead no May 6, 2007, with one Akhunzada Mohammaed Ali near Hashtnagri Chowk. Mohammed Ali was son of Tehrik-i-Jafria Pakistan leader Akhunzada Anwer Ali who had been shot dead four years earlier.