HYDERABAD, Oct 27: The senior vice-chairman of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan Sahibzada Abdul Khair Mohammad Zubair said on Saturday that the Election Commission of Pakistan should put a stop to army’s interference into politics before imposing restrictions on its criticism.

Dr Zubair who is also a central leader of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal criticised the Code of Conduct draft issued by the commission and said that as long as Gen Musharraf occupied both offices, continued to canvass for ruling party and signed political deals with political parties, he could not remain immune from criticism.

He said that his party believed that army as an institution should remain impartial and not become controversial by interfering into politics.

HUNGER STRIKE: Activists of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) staged token hunger strike outside the press club on Saturday in protest against police raids on the residences of party leader, Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza.

Peeroz Shahani, Dr Ayoub Kumbhar, Malik Tariq and Malik Iqbal said that police could not intimidate Mirza who was a committed and brave party leader.

They warned that the party would not tolerate raids on the residences of Dr Mirza and advised the chief minister to read writing on the wall, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

CHARAS SEIZED: A team headed by deputy superintendent of special anti-smuggling squad of Larkana seized 338 kilogramme charas concealed in the specially designed cavities of a vehicle on Friday.

The team intercepted Toyota Land Cruiser at Beggari Wah, Jacobabad and seized the contraband along with the driver and the vehicle.

SPRAY: The health department of Hyderabad has launched an anti-mosquito spray drive throughout the district as a precautionary measure against dengue virus.

The department in a statement issued on Saturday advised people to keep all the edibles covered and windows open when then spray was carried out.

The district nazim directed the department to cover all the lanes and streets and villages of the district during the drive against mosquitoes.

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