January 29, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 19, 1429

DADU, Jan 28: Situation was still tense in Johi and some parts of Dadu and Jamshoro districts on Monday following clashes and firing, mainly aerial, between workers of Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League over past couple of days.

Clashes between the two parties broke out on Friday after some unidentified people pelted stones at PML rallies in Johi, Dadu and Bhan Saeedabad towns. The workers of the two parties again clashed in Johi on Sunday.

Rafique Ahmed Jamali, PPP candidate for NA-232 and Syed Ghulam Shah Jilani, candidate for PS-74, held corner meetings under tight security of private guards in different localities of Johi and met with delegations of notables. Mr Jamali also held corner meetings in Dadu city.

Syed Murad Ali Shah, PPP candidate for PS-73, held corner meetings in Talti, Bhambha and Bhan Saeedabad while PML candidates Liaquat Ali Jatoi and his brothers Ehsan Ali Jatoi and Sadaqat Jatoi also continued election campaign in some select areas under heavy private and government security. Liaquat Jatoi held a corner meeting in Sehwan town and then left for Kotri.

A large number of PPP workers staged a demonstration in Johi on Monday in protest against firing on party workers and injuries to Rashid Thaheem.

Led by the party’s taluka president Bashir Ahmed Thaheem, they were demanding registration of case against PML leaders.

PML supporters on the other hand blocked the Indus Highway at a railway crossing in Hatim Jatoi village near Dadu in protest against alleged attacks on the rallies of party leader Liaquat Ali Jatoi.

The protesters, led by local party leaders Ashique Hussain Zour, Saeed Ahmed Soomro and Fida Hussain Shah Kazmi, alleged that PPP supporters were attacking PML rallies and forcing their party to stop election campaign. Liaquat Jatoi’s supporters also staged a rally in Khairpur Nathan Shah.

Meanwhile, the PPP activist Rashid Ahmed Thaheem, who suffered injuries in firing on Sunday, lodged a complaint in the court of district and sessions judge Dadu on Monday demanding registration of FIR against Liaquat Jatoi and his men.

Mr Thaheem accused Liaquat Jatoi’s guards of injuring him.

They opened fire on PPP workers when they were standing outside the party’s taluka office, he said and added that he had to move the court after police refused to register FIR against the accused.

In view of tense conditions, the Dadu DPO has stepped up patrolling sensitive areas in Johi, Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Mehar towns, to avert a repeat of clashed between the rival parties.