MIRPURKHAS, July 8: The People's Party Parliamentarians has finalized its strategy to give a tough time to Pakistan Muslim League candidate Shaukat Aziz in the August 19 by-election in Tharparkar.

The party in its Sindh council meeting held here on Wednesday decided that the PPP Sindh president Nisar Khuhro would supervise the election campaign. The meeting was attended by Rashid Rabbani, Qaim Ali Shah, Dr Mahesh Malani, Shah Mohammad Shah, MNA Aftab Shah Jilani, MNA Yousuf Talpur, MPA Sassui Palijo, Sharfunnisa Laghari, Ghulam Qadir Chandio, Ali Mardan Shah and Noor Hassan Chandio.

It was also learnt from PPP sources that party chairperson Benazir Bhutto would address a public meeting in Tharparkar by telephone. Meanwhile, over five hundred PPP activists and office-bearers led by Nisar Khuhro left for Mithi on Thursday morning.

The caravan of vehicles passed through Mirwah, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammad, Jhuddo and Naokot towns and warmly welcomed by the PPP activists. Meanwhile, Mr Khuhro said in Mithi on Thursday that his party has decided to challenge the legality of Shaukat Aziz's candidature, who despite being a senator and holding the office of federal finance minister was contesting by-election for a national assembly seat, PPI reports.

The party has asked Mr Aitzaz Ahsan to take up this matter with the Election Commission of Pakistan, he said while addressing a crowded press conference at a local press club.

The nomination and contesting of Shaukat Aziz for contesting by-polls was in clear violation of Election Commission directives, according to which, no person holding the government office or ministry can contest the polls, he said and added, "We will raise objections at the Election Commission."

He further said that Shaukat Aziz was a non-local and has no interest in the people of Tharparkar district or their problems. "His candidature has also raised several questions in the minds of people as he is very much known for his anti-Sindh role, especially with reference to allocating funds for construction of Greater Thal Canal and being staunch supporter of the Kalabagh dam," he contended.

"Shaukat Aziz was an alien to the people of the Thar Desert but the chief minister of Sindh was supporting him just to secure his own job," Mr Khuhro said. Mr Khuhro said," We would give them tough fight as this constituency belongs to the PPP where its candidates had won in 1970, 1977 and 1988. Even in 2002 elections, which are known as engineered polls, the PPP candidate secured 38,000 votes."