SHIKARPUR, Oct 2: As many as five villages were submerged and hundreds of acres of standing paddy crop damaged due to breaches in Scarp Wapda water drain near Amrote Sharif and Khirthar Canal in Garhi Yasin Taluka.

Under the aegis of Hamdard Development Forum, Garhi Yasin, a large number of affected villagers observed a token hunger strike and blocked the Lakhi-Naudero road at the new bridge of Khirthar Canal near Ruk and Amrote Sharif on Thursday.

They were protesting against the management of Scarp Wapda, Shikarpur, for its negligence in repairing drains and disposing water through proper and regular running of pumping machines installed in the areas.

DCO Nadir Ali Markhiani, on being informed, reached the spot and held talks with Sardar Wahid Bakhsh Khan Bhayo, Allah Wadhayo Kehar, convener of Hamdard Development Forum and other representatives.

On assurance of the DCO for settling their problems, traffic was restored after about four hours. However, the affected villagers announced continuation of their token hunger strike till the acceptance of their demands.

APPEAL: Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) candidate Mohammad Imran Mahar had filed an election appeal here against his PPP-backed opponent, Abdul Qayoom Mughal, before the election appellate authority/district returning officer and district and sessions judge.

Mahar, who is contesting for the seat of Taluka Nazim, Lakhi Ghulam Shah, stated in the appeal that Mughal had given incomplete details of his assets.

After considering the arguments, the appellate authority/district and sessions judge Rashid Ali Mirza rejected the nomination form of the respondent Abdul Qayoom Mughal with the instructions to strike off his name from the list of validly nominated candidates.

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