May 19, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1429

SHIKARPUR, May 18: The defeated NPP candidate for NA-202 Shikarpur-I, Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Jatoi, has accused members of the ruling party of creating an atmosphere of harassment and fear among his supporters and voters through deployment of police personnel and Rangers at all the male and female polling stations in order to get his rival candidate Aftab Shaaban Mirani of PPP elected.

At a press conference here on Sunday, Dr Jatoi said that the government was bent upon getting him defeated and used all resources for this purpose.

He alleged that the polling staff created hurdles for voters on the pretext of fake National Identity Cards at male and female polling stations. While the polling began too late, many voters, who were present in the premises of the polling stations, were not allowed to cast their votes.

He also complained that the presiding officers tried to take away ballot boxes without counting but because of resistance put up by his supporters, counting was carried out in the polling stations in front of the polling agents.

However, he alleged, that the polling staff took away ballot boxes of five polling stations, including Haji Khan Kalhoro, Sahib Khan Badani and three polling stations of Kot Shahoo to the office of Returning Officer without counting the votes.

To a question, Dr Jatoi said that he was contacting his lawyers to complain against the excesses committed by the government.

Meanwhile, activists of Pakistan People’s Party, People’s Hari Committee and other affiliated organisations celebrated the victory of PPP candidate Aftab Shaaban Mirani in the re- polling by taking out a rally and distributed sweets.

PPP candidate Mirani was unofficially declared elected on the seat of NA-202 Shikarpur-I, after compilation of results on 17 polling stations. He secured a total of 47,346 votes while NPP candidate Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Jatoi, obtained 40,769 votes.

On PS-12 Shikarpur-IV, NPP candidate Mir Abid Hussain Jatoi was declared elected as he obtained 28,033 votes after repolling while his rival Agha Arsalan Khan Pathan of PPP got 16,930 votes.—Correspondent