January 28, 2008	Monday	Muharram 18, 1429

DADU, Jan 27: The town of Johi was closed on Sunday after incident of firing by workers of the Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan People’s Party in different parts of the town.

One PPP worker was injured following firing in the air during a PML rally led by former federal minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi.

Mr Liaquat Jatoi’s rally was passing through the town to go to Gul Mohammad Rodhnani village when some people fired in the air triggering exchange of slogans between PPP and PML workers.

The incident sparked firing by the workers of two parties at three places in the town leaving PPP activist Rashid Thaheem injured. He was moved to taluka hospital.

As the news about injuries to Thaheem spread, hundreds of party supporters and activists gathered at Zulfiqar Chowk and blocked the Dadu-Johi road.

They also staged a demonstration outside Johi police station. The protest was led by president of the party’s Johi chapter Bashir Ahmed Thaheem and Datal Khan Jamali, elder bother of party’s district president Rafique Ahmed Jamali.

Mr Bashir accused PML leaders and workers of opening fire on PPP workers and said police were not registering FIR against PML leader Dr Bandah Ali Leghari and others involved in firing on PPP workers. The party would launch a protest drive if the case was not lodged, he warned.

Datal Khan Jamali said that PPP workers raised slogans “Jeay Bhutto” and “Jeay Benazir Bhutto” when some private people in Liaquat’s rally opened fire on them.

The PML leader Dr Bandah Ali Leghari claimed that a PML worker had also sustained injuries in the firing. PPP workers used batons, stones, bricks and weapons on their peaceful rally, he charged.

DPO Ayaz Ahmed Pathan rushed to Johi police station to tackle the situation.

LIAQUAT JATOI: Former federal minister and PML candidate for NA-232 and PS-73 Liaquat Ali Jatoi on Sunday feared outbreak of a civil war in the district if attacks by PPP supporters on PML rallies did not stop.

He told journalists in Johi that when he was passing through Johi to attend a marriage ceremony in Gul Mohammad Rodhnani village, PPP workers raised slogans against him and opened fire on his motorcade.

Just two days ago, PPP supporters had thrown stones at a PML rally led by him in Johi smashing windscreens of vehicles, he alleged.

But the president of Dadu chapter of PPP Rafique Ahmed Jamali held Liaquat Jatoi responsible for the Johi incident. PML workers opened fire on PPP workers who were raising “Jeay Bhutto” slogans, he claimed.

Mr Jamali told journalists after the incident in Johi that Liaquat Jatoi was now trying to create harassment and fear among people because he knew that he had no chances of a win in elections.

He threatened PPP would launch a drive against Liaquat Jatoi if police did not lodge FIR against him.