January 26, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 16, 1429

SHIKARPUR, Jan 25: Caretaker government is supporting its favourite candidates and helping relatives of ministers of the present setup, said Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP) Ameer Maulana Shah Anas Noorani.

He was talking to reporters on the 92nd death anniversary of Moulana Abdul Ghafoor Hamayooni at Hamayoon Sharif, on Friday. He said partiality of caretakers cannot fuel the hopes of free and fair elections.

He expressed concern over pre-poll rigging by the caretakers, who were assigned to get the government-backed candidates elected at any cost. He demanded a new and impartial caretaker setup and monitoring of city town and nazims in electioneering.

Earlier, addressing a press conference in Madressa Rizvia in Sukkur, Noorani said fair polls under the leadership of President Musharraf were not possible, reports PPI.

Therefore, he added, JUP Majlis-e-Shura would take a formal decision on 27th in Lahore to boycott elections after which a countrywide protest movement would be launched.

He said the country was not only facing external threats but also exposed to serious internal crisis, adding persisting flour crisis was clear manifestation of it.

The JUP chief alleged the rulers of running election campaign of their favourite parties on state expenses which was violation of code of conduct.

Noorani claimed impartial elections were not possible in this country without independent judiciary and formation of an autonomous election commission.