LAHORE, Aug 9: Data Ganj Bakhsh Town Nazim Khwaja Ahmd Hassaan and Naib Nazim Mian Usman are seriously considering sending collective resignations to President Gen Pervez Musharraf in protest against continuous political victimization by the Punjab government for more than one year for 'conquering' the town.

Over 300 Data Ganj Bakhsh Town councillors have also handed over their resignations to the Town Nazim for submission to the president. The announcement to this effect was made by councillor Seerat Husain at a meeting of the Councillors Ittehad held at the residence of Chaudhry Manzoor Husain here on Monday.

He said the town had been declared a model town by the World Bank due to the efforts of Mr Hassaan and Mr Usman but they had been compelled to tender resignations due to continuous harassment by the Punjab government following their refusal to become the turncoats and join the ruling PML.

Ittehad secretary general Shahzad Ahmad said the town Nazim, Naib Nazim and councillors were left with no option but to tender collective resignations because not only the Punjab government was victimizing them but the Punjab Election Authority was also out to remove them from their offices.

The election authority announced voting on a no-confidence motion against Mr Hassaan last year when his appeal was pending in the Supreme Court. It has now announced the date of voting on a no-confidence motion against Mr Usman while his case was pending in the Lahore High Court.

He said the City District Government and police had started pressuring the councillors to vote against Mr Usman following the announcement of the date for voting on the motion against him.

He claimed that the councillors were being offered bribe and benefits for voting against Mr Usman and those refusing to accept the offer were threatened with dire consequences.