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HYDERABAD, July 31: The People’s Party Parliamentarians has alleged that proposers and seconders of Awam Dost Panel candidates for the local body elections are being harassed, intimidated and kidnapped by a pro-government party.
In a joint statement issued here on Sunday, party office- bearers MPA Zahid Ali Bhurgari, Syed Saleem Shah Bukhari, Syed Fayaz Ali Shah, Amanullah Siyal, Mir Fateh Talpur and Aftab Ahmad Khanzado alleged that activists of the ruling government party were threatening the ADP candidates and asking them to withdraw their candidature.
They charged that the proposer and seconder of Ume Zubaira, who had filed nomination papers for the seat of general councillor (women) in union council-16, had been kidnapped.
They further alleged that a candidate for union council-5, Hyderabad city, Mohan Lal, had been threatened to withdraw from the contest otherwise he would be killed.
They said Ms Sajjo, wife of Raees, who had been elected unopposed on a labourer seat (women) from union council-12, Latifabad taluka, had been called at the zonal office of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and threatened with dire consequences if she did not change her loyalties.
The PPP leaders also quoted other similar instances.
This correspondent met Ms Sajjo who conceded that she had been called at the MQM’s zonal office but said she had not been issued any threats. She said MQM leaders implored her “not to disappoint them.” She appeared frightened but said she would not change her loyalties.
PML-N: The Pakistan Muslim League-N, Jamshoro, at a meeting held on Sunday decided to contest the election at every union council of the district and make seat adjustment with other parties and groups.
Party district president and chairman of the district election board Dr Abdul Hameed Rajput presided over the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rajput said the party had fielded 10 candidates for seats of nazims and 100 candidates for councillors’ seats in the district.
He said the party was holding talks with the Pakistan People’s Party, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement and expressed the hope that seat adjustments would be made with them. He, however, ruled out any alliance with ruling parties as directed by party chief Mohammad Nawaz Sharif.
DEMONSTRATION: A group of people from the Kohistan area, Jamshoro district, held a demonstration under the banner of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League outside the press club here on Sunday to protest against alleged highhandedness of the former nazim of the defunct Dadu district.
Speaking on the occasion, Malik Nadir Khan, Khuda Bux Khaskheli and Dr Lakhmir Palari alleged that former nazim Malik Asad Sikandar and his henchmen had desecrated the sanctity of the Kotri court on Saturday and threatened PML candidates within the court premises.
They appealed to the president, prime minister and the Sindh chief minister to order arrest of culprits of the Kotri court incident.
TORCHED: The collector, customs central excise and sales tax, Fazal Qadir Qalbani, and other senior officers of the department set on fire confiscated narcotics, fake cigarettes and obscene video cassettes here on Saturday.
Representatives of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and influential people of the town were present.
