January 16, 2008	Wednesday	Muharram 06, 1429

MIRPURKHAS, Jan 15: A state of mourning still prevails in the PPP circles and among common people including women in the district after a passage of 18 days to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

It is observed that a grief has enveloped the whole district, causing a hurdle in resumption of election campaign by the Pakistan Peoples Party candidates for the two national and four provincial assembly seats from the district.

According to a survey by this correspondent, as people, particularly women, are not ready to talk on elections and Quran Khwani and Fateha Khwani are still being held on daily basis, election campaigning remains suspended.

The PPP sources said that their party’s election campaign would resume after 10th of Muharram or Jan 20.

However, the candidates of other parties, MQM, PML-F and MMA, and independents are busy in canvassing by visiting the people and holding of gatherings.

Common people are of the view that the importance of the general election has been minimised after Ms Bhutto’s death.

Villagers are avoiding visiting the towns and cities as a result business activities have been affected.

Traders and shopkeepers are worried due to a reduction in their daily sales by 50 per cent.