KARACHI, April 12: Leader of opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Monday demanded that foreign observers be invited to monitor by-elections in the province. He made this demand to the Chief Election Commissioner while addressing a news conference in his assembly chambers.

Mr Khuhro said foreign observers from European Union (EU) and Commonwealth countries should be invited to observe the byelections in the four national and two provincial assembly seats in the province.

Expressing concern over transparency in the forthcoming elections, he pointed out that the district police officers in two districts where byelection would be held, have been transferred without prior permission of the Election Commission, while under the rules after the announcement of the date, the government could not order transfers and postings without permission of the election commission.

Leader of the opposition said that the delaying tactics in announcement of the results of the local bodies byelection was enough to prove that the byelection would be rigged.

He said that violence during the by-election and delays in the announcement of the local bodies results was a deliberate attempt. He also slammed the government for avoiding to discuss the Greater Thal Canal issue and defending its firm stand on National Finance Commission award.