DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Pakistan Peoples Party central information secretary Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday demanded level playing field for all the political parties to run their electoral campaigns for the Feb 8 elections.

While addressing a press conference at Kundi Model Farms here, he said legal action must be taken against those involved in the May 9 incidents, while unlawful arrests of political leaders and workers of any party should be avoided.

He recalled that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf vice-president Shah Mehmood Qureshi had not condemned the illegal actions being taken against the PPP leaders during the PTI government.

“The election must be held transparently and peacefully on its scheduled time,” Mr Kundi said. He said that weather and law and order situation should not be used as excuses to delay elections.

He said 200,000 people of Dera Ismail Khan had been registered with the Benazir Income Support Programme. “More deserving people would be added to the programme if PPP came into power again,” he promised.

Replying to a question about the PPP ticket for PK-113 constituency, Mr Kundi said all the tickets would be confirmed within a few days, adding, PPP had a strong candidate for each constituency of DI Khan and they all would contest elections on party’s symbol.

On this occasion, local PTI leaders, including three former nazims – Malik Iqbal Bum, Sheikh Akmal and Malik Anwar Mekan – and two former councilors, including Irfan Baloch and Waheed, joined the PPP.

The PPP information secretary welcomed them to his party.

FOUR OUTLAWS HELD: The police on Saturday arrested four outlaws, including two absconders, and recovered weapons and drugs from their possession.

According to a police spokesman, a team of Yarik police station led by SHO Khubab Wali Baloch arrested absconder, Sifatullah, who was wanted by the police in murder and attempted murder cases.

The same police also arrested absconder, Meraajuddin, who was wanted by police in two theft cases.

In another action, the Yarik police arrested Tanvir and recovered 238 grams of heroin and 39 grams of ice drug from his possession.

Meanwhile, a team of Paroa police station led by SHO Bilal Khan arrested Allah Nawaz, who was wanted by the police in a murder case.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2023