January 29, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 19, 1429

LARKANA, Jan 28: The district council’s meeting took an ugly turn on Monday when PPP-backed ADP and PML-backed KPP members traded abuses, kicks and punches after a KPP member made remarks critical of Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

Police had to rush in to control the fighting members as the convener Syed Ali Raza Shah failed to calm them.

Later, he adjourned the session to Tuesday.

The clash broke out after member of Khushhal Pakistan Panel (KPP) Babu Serwar Siyal started levelling allegations against PPP co-chairman during his speech on a resolution demanding United Nations-led probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

The resolution was moved by Barkat Shaikh, a member of Awam Dost Panel (ADP).

Mr Siyal first showered praise on the slain leader Ms Benazir Bhutto but suddenly veered away from the subject and started slandering Zardari.

He blamed Zardari for creating law and order situation in Larkana and said he should pay for the damages to private and public property from the Rs17 billion that he had recently received.

Infuriated, ADP’s Mashooque Jatoi stopped him from using abusive language and snatched mike from his hand when he did not listen to him, triggering the clash which saw the members pushing and punching each other.

Mr Siyal told journalists after the adjournment of session that Zardari was behind what he called attempt on his life during the session.

ADP members Apa Tauqeer, Fatima Bhutto, Mashooque Jatoi, Nisar Bhutto, Barkat Shaikh and Moazzam Abbasi at a press conference accused Mr Siyal of creating hatred by unnecessarily using abusive language against PPP’s top leadership.

They said Siyal snatched a Kalashnikov from a policeman and later a pistol from a private security guard to attack ADP members during the session.

The convener just sat watching as the members were kicking and punching each other, they said and added that party’s provincial leadership had talked to police officers who had assured that if a case was registered it would be against both the parties.

They appealed to Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan, Sindh High Court and district administration for taking action against the KPP members who they alleged were poisoning peaceful atmosphere in the district.

ADP’s Mashooque Ali Jatoi, earlier, urged the members to pass the resolution.

Three members of KPP Amjad Jalbani, Oshaque Bossan and Shahid Iqbal Siyal defected to ADP during the session and the convener, meanwhile, adjourned the session to Tuesday.

The council met under tents on the premises of district council as the main hall was still in bad shape after rioters had burnt it down in the wake of Dec 27 disturbances.