SUKKUR, Sept 5: Officials of the environment department and taluka municipal administration conducted raids on three factories of PPP leader Khursheed Shah and attempted to seal them saying the plants were spreading pollution. Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, MNA Khursheed Shah said officials reached the Nara Cotton Factory, New Yakoob Biscuit Factory and Mukesh Flour Mills belonging to his partner and said the factories were posing threat to environment.

When managers of the three factories said they were not in receipt of any notice in this regard, the officials said provincial minister Adil Siddiqui had ordered to seal the factories.

He said the order had been passed with connivance of government-backed candidate for the district nazim slot, Nasir Hussain Shah.

Mr Shah said the officials went to the Junejo Flour Mills where they were told that the mill did not belong to Khursheed Shah rather it belonged to Yar Mohammad Ghumro, Imtiaz Shaikh and Pir Sahib Pagaro’s son.

On this, they left without saying a word.

He said he did not have any differences with the Muttahida rather Nasir Hussain Shah was using the provincial environment minister for his own vested interests and termed the action a political victimization.

Expressing his anxiety, he said earlier the government rigged both phases of the local body elections and in the wake of third phase, not only councillors were being threatened and harassed but they were personalizing the politics.

He said water connection of the New Yakoob Biscuit factory had been disconnected by the municipal staff and when asked about the action, they said that the action was initiated on orders of Nasir Hussain Shah.

He said he would complain to the election commission in this regard.

Meanwhile, Mr Shah announced that the PPP was ready to withdraw its nazim candidature against Yar Mohammad Ghumro, a PML-F candidate, if Nasir Shah announces his withdrawal against candidate of his coalition party PML (F).

Addressing a press conference at his residence on Monday, he said the party’s high command had allowed us to make adjustment with other parties at the local level and keeping in view instructions we have entered into adjustment with the PML (F).

He said following the meeting with Pir Sahib Pagaro, we assured him of our full support for his candidate of district nazim Sukkur.