January 24, 2008	Thursday	Muharram 14, 1429

DADU, Jan 23: An FIR was lodged against PPP leader Pir Mazharul Haq, his two sons and 300 unidentified people on Wednesday for allegedly setting on fire the taluka municipal office in the aftermath of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

Watchman Mumtaz Mastoi, had lodged the FIR with police, stating that all records and furniture at the office had been burnt down during the rioting. PPP’s candidate for PS-74, Pir Mazhar, his two sons, Pir Mujeebul Haq and Pir Danish, and 300 unknown persons were booked in the FIR.

Pir Mazhar termed the FIR as ‘fake’. He said that neither he nor his sons or PPP workers had been involved in arson attack on the TMA office and other properties in the town. He termed the matter as ‘political victimisation’.

ELECTION CAMPAIGNS: Candidates of the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Q have restarted their election activities.

The campaign had been suspended after the murder of Ms Bhutto. A meeting of the PPP’s district chapter was held here on Wednesday, with the party’s candidate for NA-232 Rafique Ahmed Jamali in the chair.

Party leaders Dost Ali Jessar, Ghulam Shabbir Abro, Bashir Ahmed Thaheem, Kazi Shafique Ahmed Mahessar, Qambar Ali Khan Leghari, taluka, city and UC office bearers attended the meeting. The meeting decided to hold a ceremony on Ms Bhutto’s chehlum on February 7 at its district office.

It directed party workers to convey the slain chairperson’s message to people and elect PPP candidates in polls. PPP candidate Rafique Ahmed Jamali told reporters that the party’s candidates for two national and four provincial assembly seats had started their campaigns in the district.

Meanwhile, PML-Q candidates Ihsan Ali Jatoi (NA-233) and Sadaqat Ali Jatoi (PS-77) held public meetings in Betto Jatoi.

PML-Q leader Zafar Ali Shah said its candidates had restarted their campaign and a programme had been chalked out to visit different villages of the constituency. He said that PML-Q leader Liaquat Ali Jatoi had returned from Dubai and would start his election drive tomorrow.

ACCIDENT: A 12-year-old bicyclist, Waheed Ali Jessar, was crushed to death under the wheels of a tractor here on Wednesday.

Javed, Aijaz and Ali Gul also suffered injuries in the accident on Khairpur Nathan Shah bypass.