MIRPURKHAS, Feb 1 The convener of Mirpurkhas chapter of the Schedule Caste Ittehad, Dr Heeranand Bheel, has quit the Pakistan People`s Party (PPP) and joined Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) with his associates. He announced his decision at the MQM zonal office here on Friday.

Later at a press conference, Dr Bheel said that he had been with the PPP for nine years but the schedule caste people in the district were ignored by the PPP representatives. He added that their areas remained backward and deprived of basic amenities.

Dr Bheel said that schedule caste people, particularly in Sindh, were living a miserable life as people with feudal mindset considered them as servants. He claimed that about 30,000 votes of schedule castes were in the district of Mirpurkhas.

Mirpurkhas MQM zonal in-charge Saleem Razzaq welcomed Dr Bheel to the MQM.

CAMPAIGN RALLIES Activists of Pakistan People`s Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement took out separate rallies on vehicles and motorcycles amid a tense situation in the city.

Some participants of the rallies were carrying arms.

Police personnel were not seen anywhere near the rallies. The activists of the two parties raised slogans in favour of their respective leaders.

Local people had demanded of the DIG and DPO to deploy police along with rallies to prevent any untoward incident.

QURAN KHWANI Quran khawani and fateha khawani for the slain Pakistan People`s Party leader Benazir Bhutto were held at the residence of local PPP leader Malik Mohammad Yaseen Ghori.

BOOKED Police have booked six businessmen for issuing threats of dire consequences over a land dispute.

Shabbir Ahmed Memon, resident of Shahi Bazaar, lodged a case with the Town police against Allah Bux, Mohammad Ali, Shabbir Nagori, Iqbal Nagori and two unidentified men.

He stated that that the accused had occupied his building and a case regarding it was pending in a court.

He alleged that he was at a shop of his friend when the accused equipped with arms came there and issued threats of dire consequences if he did not withdraw the case against them.