HYDERABAD, July 25: People’s Party Parliamentarians MNA from Tando Mohammad Khan, Mr Naveed Qamar, has said that Awam Dost Panel-backed candidates are being pressurized by the government through police to change their loyalty. He said “members of active judiciary” were also part of manoeuvring and manipulation ahead of the local body elections.

He was speaking at a press conference at the press club here on Monday. Local party leaders Saghir Qureshi and Pasha Qazi were present on the occasion. Mr Qamar demanded that the Election Commission should ensure adherence to the code of conduct issued by the acting chief election commissioner.

He said it was evident from holding of camp by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim in Tando Mohammad Khan that the state machinery was being used in the local body elections for manipulation and harassing ADP-backed candidates.

He said indiscriminate arrests were being made in Tando Mohammad Khan to humiliate and demoralize PPP workers and leaders. He said the Sindh chief minister had been appointed to destroy stronghold of the PPP through state power but the PPP’s real strength was the people who could not be subjugated or harassed.

He said the ADP candidate for nazim’s position of UC Moya, Ali Ghulam Chandio, was pressurized to change his loyalty. He said Fazal Bagarani was picked up by police and party failed to establish contact with him and police officials at the higher level to know his whereabouts.

He said another candidate for Sheikh Bhirkio UC Nazim Altaf Nizamani, his manager and a guard were also detained by police and were in custody. He said ADP candidates were being prevented from obtaining nomination forms.

He said 90 per cent of polling stations had been changed in Tando Mohammad Khan district and 14 polling stations alone were changed in UC Lakhat. He said polling stations were being set up at desolate places where there were no metalled roads and government buildings and described such changes as unprecedented.

He said the government had adopted carrot and stick policy towards its opponents. “I believe members of active judiciary are also part of this manoeuvring and manipulations. Our people are being pressurized to change their loyalty. The Sindh chief minister is on record having described opponents as criminals”, the MNA said.

He said the PPP would take part in LB elections while fighting its case legally and politically.

He said in the next three days more ADP-backed candidates would be kidnapped and harassed by the police.

He called upon the CEC and other authorities to take notice of the situation and ensure implementation of code of conduct.