February 15, 2008	Friday	Safar 07, 1429

HYDERABAD, Feb 14: An MQM candidate of PS-47 Qasimabad has accused the PPP of harassment. Aziz Soomro said his supporters in Qasimabad taluka, all four UCs, had been barred from going there making it a no go area.

Addressing news conference at the press club on Thursday, he said since the MQM began electioneering some miscreants with the backing of PPP had been attempting to sabotage it. He said on February 7 his rally was attacked by the PPP activists in Qasimabad, while on Wednesday, MQM’s workers, including Kashif and Imran were beaten up for playing their party’s songs in election office.

On February 8, he said the MQM organised a public meeting and its caravans upon reaching the venue were harassed by the PPP activists and people had to return back to their villages and homes. He also alleged the removal of flags and banners at some places in Qasimabad.

“We are adopting the policy of restrain on the directives of our leader Altaf Hussain,” he said.

He accused the PPP of assembling armed people from all over Sindh who were staying at different places for February 18. He said this could be verified from daily aerial firing incidents, reported in different localities. He said aerial firing took place in Qasimabad, Hyder Chowk, Hussainabad and other places, while the Election Commission had been informed of it.