SARGODHA, Dec 18: Fifty people, including women and children, were brought to the DHQ hospital in serious condition in which they landed after relishing sweats while celebrating the success of PPP nominee in the byelection on Sunday. Reports said some staunch supporters of the PPP, many of them professional singers and dancers, took sweetmeat distributed by some unknown people to celebrate the victory of PPP-backed candidate. Immediately after eating, they started vomiting and fainted and were taken to the DHQ hospital where they were given prompt treatment.

MNA Tasneem Qureshi told this correspondent that some people told the PPP activists that he (Mr Qureshi) had sent sweetmeat for them and disappeared. The people took the sweat and landed themselves in trouble.

He said he, along with Mirza Afzal, visited the hospital and inquired after his supporters whose condition was stated to be stable. He said he would take up the matter with the police.

SP (Headquarters) Muhammad Riaz Meikan also visited the health facility and said stern action would be taken against the people, who had offered poisonous sweets to the PPP backers.