KARACHI, Aug 19: Sindh Revenue Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh said on Thursday that the big turnout witnessed in Tharparkar by-election was due to its being a high-profile contest for which the PML had mobilized all its resources.

"The people of Thar desert were also enthusiastic to cast their votes in favour of Mr Shaukat Aziz," he told a news conference at his office. The minister was asked to comment on the unprecedented turnout in Thar desert that surpassed even that of Europe despite the fact that the local population there appeared scattered and literacy rate considerably low.

Brushing aside all allegations of rigging, he said the national and international media was there to witness the fair and transparent election and none of them reported any instance of rigging.

Mr Shaikh refuted the allegation of a massive use of government machinery during the election process, saying that the PML had mobilized all its resources. "Even the vehicles used for bringing voters to polling stations were arranged by the party."

In reply to a question about the overall expenses incurred on Mr Aziz's election campaign in Tharparkar, the minister said he did not have an idea. However, he added, the party would file the return of election expenses with the election commission as required under the law.

Congratulating Shaukat Aziz on his overwhelming victory, Imtiaz Shaikh declared that the PML would now emerge as the strongest party in the country. When asked that why had chief minister Dr Arbab Rahim postponed the Sindh PML's council session called by him (Imtiaz Shaikh), the minister replied that the decision had been taken after mutual consultation. "The session was postponed due to the CM's preoccupation. This should not be construed as differences between us," he said. -PPI