May 25, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1429

LARKANA, May 24: Ms Faryal Talpur, sister of PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, was unofficially elected MNA unopposed from NA-207 (Larkana-IV) after all candidates withdrew their candidatures from the contest on Saturday.

Anwar Bhutto, the covering candidate for Ms Talpur and Rajib Bhutto of the PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) told Dawn that they had withdrawn from the contest.

Later, an independent candidate, Majeed Khokhar, also withdrew his from the competition paving the way for Ms Talpur to return unopposed.

Larkana PPP general secretary Anwar Bhutto said that he had faxed withdrawal papers to Returning Officer Jan Mohammed Kalhoro.

In a letter to the Sindh election commissioner, Mr Kalhoro said that five candidates, Asif Ali Jalbani, Mumtaz Ali Gopang, Rajib Ali Bhutto, Abdul Majeed Khokhar and Anwar Bhutto, had withdrawn their candidature on May 24.

Some 14 candidates, including PPP’s Faryal Talpur, and those belonging to the PML-N, PPP (SB) and independents had filed papers to contest the by-polls.

The election on the seat was not held due to assassination of Ms Benazir Bhutto.