FAISALABAD: Qasim Zia may be replaced: MPA

Published September 19, 2004

FAISALABAD, Sept 18: Divisional PPP coordinator MPA Raja Riaz Ahmad said on Saturday there were chances that the provincial president may be changed.

He said at a press conference here the party was being reorganized from the union council to the provincial level on the directives of chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

"There are strong indications that Punjab president Qasim Zia may be replaced with some loyal and hardworking leader as the chairperson had categorically stated separation of the posts of parliamentary leader and the provincial presidents," he added.

He said reorganization was being done for the coming local bodies and next general elections.

He claimed that the former premier would return to Pakistan at a time to be decided by the Central Working Committee of the party.

Raja Riaz said the PPP would contest election on every post in the union, tehsil and district elections.

He claimed that Asif Zardari had been detained by the rulers to blackmail the PPP leadership.

He criticized the resolution adopted by the Punjab Assembly in favour of Gen Musharraf's uniform.

KILLS FATHER: A man allegedly gunned down his father over property dispute in Samundri on Saturday.

Nazir Ahmad of Chak 38 GB of Samundri reportedly developed a dispute with his son Abdul Haq over the distribution of property. Abdul Haq shot dead Nazir when he was sleeping.

Samundri Saddar police got suspicious when Abdul Haq gave confusing statements about the death of his father. Police took him into custody and during interrogation he confessed to murdering his father.

BOY BURNT: A boy succumbed to burn wounds while his brother and sister sustained injuries when a gas cylinder exploded in Nishatabad here on Friday night.

Reports said Wasim Akram, Afzal, and Nazia, 10, were sitting in the kitchen of their house when the incident took place. They were taken to hospital where Wasim died of burns. The condition of the other two children was stated to be out of danger.