HYDERABAD, Aug 29: People’s Party Parliamentarians leader and MPA Sassui Palijo has released a white paper, underlining ‘massive rigging and election malpractices’ in the first phase of the local body elections in Thatta district on Aug 18.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Sunday, she said several PPP supporters had been killed before and after the elections and hundreds of others were injured and arrested.

She said she herself miraculously escaped while she was made the target of direct firing.

She accused the Shirazi group and the MQM of committing inhuman atrocities against PPP activists in Thatta district.

She said presiding officers were changed at the last minute and candidates of the government parties themselves stamped the ballot papers.

She alleged that at the instance of provincial adviser, Aijaz Shah Shirazi, the SHO Gharo police station registered a false case against 192 PPP leaders and supporters.

Ms Palijo said three separate voters’ lists were prepared and even people from Nazimabad, Lalookhet and Azizabad cast bogus votes in Thatta district.

The MPA also alleged that the provincial adviser Aijaz Shirazi had threatened government servants with dismissal from service if their relatives, who were contesting elections on the PPP ticket, did not withdraw from the contest.

She said the results of many UCs were changed overnight.

She said massive rigging had taken place in the province to elect government-backed candidates so that nobody could oppose the construction of Kalabagh dam.

She demanded that the elections held on Aug 18 and 25, should be declared null and void and fresh elections should be held after appointing a permanent chief election commissioner.

She demanded all false cases against PPP leaders and workers should be withdrawn and arrested workers be released forthwith.

MPA Zahid Bhurgari, Mir Fateh Talpur, Amanullah Siyal and others were also present on the occasion.

LUMHS: The additional controller of examinations, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, announced schedule for the third professional examinations of MBBS-2005 on Monday.