February 14, 2008	Thursday	Safar 06, 1429

SUKKUR, Feb 13: Apprehensions expressed by political and religious parties regarding rigging and partiality in coming elections are disregarded by the caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro.

“No party or group will be allowed to hinder the process of peaceful polls as everyone has the right to franchise as per his will,” he added.

This he said during the inaugural of Ophthalmology Unit in Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Sukkur on Wednesday. He also laid foundation stone of a CNG station inside its premises.

The caretaker setup, he said was duty-bound to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections, while the Election Commission had completed arrangements regarding the whole process. Sounding warning to those stopping people from voting, he ensured that no rigging will be allowed.

Mohammadmian Soomro said Army will remain at hand and the Election Commission will be in command to utilize its service. “We had taken stringent measures to protect life and property of citizen,” he said. He urged the people to exercise their right in a larger number by electing those who could serve them for next five years.

To a query, he expressed ignorance over house arrest of APDM leaders. Regarding development projects started by the caretakers, he said the option to carry on with these after February 18 would be decided by the next elected government.

The caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (R) Abdul Qadir Halepoto felt sorry for people of upper Sindh for being ignorant of eye care and emphasized the need to make them aware of such ailments.

He called on Al-Shifa Trust to establish hospital in Thar as it will facilitate the people of inaccessible and far-flung areas like Thar Desert. President Al-Shifa Trust appealed to philanthropists, especially the SCCI to come forward and show their generosity.

Zila Nazim Sukkur Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Zila Nazim Ghotki Ali Gohar Mahar and Zila Nazim Shikarpur Arif Mahar announced Rs5 lakh each for the institute, while Ghous Bux Khan Mahar, Dr Nisar Pathan, Khawaja Jalil and others announced construction of rooms and wards for extension of the institute. Later, the caretaker prime minister awarded commendation certificates to doctors and staff of the hospital, for their meritorious services.

Later, Mohammedmian Soomro laying foundation stone of the Girls’ Hostel at the IBA, Sikkur said: “Quality education in accordance to global needs, especially in the field of business management, information technology and human resource development is the need of hour”.

He said Pakistan maintained five per cent GDP growth during the last five years which was a significant achievement after October 12, 1999.

Mr Soomro appreciated the performance of IBA Sukkur with the hopes it would be a model institute in the years to come.

He asked industrialists, businessmen and philanthropist to come forward and establish institutions on the pattern of IBA in interior of Sindh. In today’s age of globalization only the fittest among people and nations will survive, he observed.

He announced grant of Rs5 million for the IBA Sukkur and pledged to meet institute’s genuine future needs.