SHIKARPUR, Jan 14: The People’s Party Parliamentarians candidates for PS-10 (Shikarpur-II), PS-12 (Shikarpur-IV), PS-76 (Khairpur Nathan Shah) and NA-201 (Ghotki) have announced to boycott the by-election, scheduled on Wednesday.
The PPP candidates have said that they took the decision because the government is supporting their rival candidates and they have no hope of fair and transparent polling.
The party candidates for two provincial assembly seats of Shikarpur district have boycotted the by-election in protest against “the government support for their rival candidates”.
This was announced by PPP candidate for PS-10 (Shikarpur-II) Abdul Qadir Chachar, and Usaid Ahmed Soomro for PS-12 (Shikarpur- IV), at a press conference, held here on Tuesday, after a party meeting.
Chachar and Soomro, who were flanked by MPA Agha Tariq Khan and PPP leader Aftab Shahban Mirani complained that the election authorities had failed to take action on their applications, seeking deployment of heavy police contingents and rangers at sensitive polling stations in Lakhi and Khanpur talukas.
They said that the district election authorities had also given no response to their demands to relocate some of the sensitive polling stations to safer places.
They also expressed concern over the deployment of selected polling staff and police officials in the district, and support of the district administration for their rival candidates, terming the measures pre-poll rigging.
They alleged that “the government-backed” candidates — Mir Abid Hussain Jatoi of the National Alliance for PS-12 and Faiz Mohammad Mahar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q for PS-11 — were allowed to carry weapons during their election campaigns.
The PPP candidates announced that they had decided to boycott the by- election because there was no hope of fair and transparent polling.
DADU: The PPP candidate for PS-76, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Haji Zafar Ali Leghari, announced on Tuesday to boycott the by- election.
Now Ihsan Ali Jatoi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q and three independent candidates, Dr Asad Leghari, Ali Asghar Jatoi and Mohammad Amin Jamali are in the field.
The position of the PML-Q candidate is said to be strong.
The PPP candidate has alleged that the police and other government officials are supporting the PML-Q candidate and several of PPP supporters are arrested to pressure them to change their loyalties.
Talking to this correspondent, Zafar Leghari accused the government officials of supporting Ihsan Jatoi, the brother of federal minister for industries, Liaquat Ali Jatoi.
He complained that the SHOs in Khairpur Nathan Shah talukas were posted at the behest of the PML-Q candidate.
He alleged that 20 PPP workers were arrested on flimsy charges.
The PPP leader accused the Jatoi brothers of victimizing his family and supporters.
He announced to boycott the by-election.
The independent candidate, Dr Asad Leghari, said that the district administration had made a plan to get the PML-Q candidate secure the provincial assembly seat.
He alleged that the district administration had deployed the officers, supporting Ihsan Jatoi, at the polling stations.
SUKKUR: Abdul Latif Shah, PPP candidate on NA-201 Ghotki, on Tuesday announced boycotting the by-elections alleging that the election authorities had kept mum regarding the excesses of his rival candidate, Raja Khan Mahar, brother of the Sindh chief minister.
Speaking at a press conference, he said that the entire state machinery was busy in foul play, including intimidating his relatives and workers, and their houses were raided several times during the last few days.
He said despite our informing the election commission, no action had been taken therefore, we are left with no option but to boycott.
He asked the supporters and PPP workers to stay at their homes on the by-election day.
He said that he would not send his polling agents at any of the polling stations.
DOMKI RETIRES: Ghalib Domki, an independent candidate for PS-18 (Kashmor) announced his retirement from the by-election, which he was contesting against Sindh Democratic Alliance chief Imtiaz Shaikh.
While confirming his retirement to this correspondent, Domki claimed that he did it in response to the federal government who wanted to avoid bloodshed and violence in Kashmor.
He said that the people remained tense due to the tribal feuds and the contest would have led to more violence.
He said that his family had ties with the Mahar clan for three generations, and the Mahars had forced him to retire to avoid bloodshed, and also in the interest of Sindh.
He said that the decision had been taken on the federal level and not on the local level.
Domki dismissed the impression that he would become an adviser against his retirement, but added that he was ready to play any role if asked.