HYDERABAD, Jan 28: Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has rejected claims made by some political parties that the government is involved in pre-poll rigging and said these political parties were themselves involved in such activities tarnish the image of the caretaker government.

He said the government was determined to hold free and fair elections and all resources of the government, including army, would be used for this purpose.

He was talking to newsmen at the district nazim’s secretariat during a visit to the city on Monday.

“It is basically political parties themselves which have resorted to rigging,” he said.

Giving an example, he said, the government had imposed the condition of production of computerised NIC at polling booths during elections to rule out any chance of rigging in elections, but some political parties started hue and cry over the issue and challenged the matter in the court and forced the government to change its decision.

He said throughout the world no sitting governments were removed before elections, but the president had formed a caretaker government only to ensure fair, free and impartial elections.

“It is for the first time in the history of the country that President Pervez Musharraf has appointed a caretaker government just to ensure free and fair elections,” he said.

He criticised PPP co-chairman’s statement in which the he had asked PPP workers to stay outside polling stations till the announcement of election results.

“Now it will give an excuse to other political parties to instruct their party workers to remain present outside the polling stations. In case of defeat of either party violence cannot be ruled out,” he said, urging the leadership of all political parties to show maturity and patience in ensuring peaceful conditions for elections.

About violence across Sindh after the assassination of Ms Benazir Bhutto, the Sindh governor said the violence had caused losses of one trillion rupees

He said the government’s commission was evaluating claims of losses submitted by citizens and private parties.

He said the commission would finalise the assessment report by Jan 30 and it would be sent to the federal government for compensation.

He said the government would compensate those poor people on top priority basis who had lost their sources of livelihood in the disturbances.

He said that taking advantage of the situation, some elements subjected some girls to criminal assaults and devastated lives of not only victims but their families also.

“I have details of these incidents, but identity of these girls is being kept secret because of the obvious reason of saving them and their families from social embarrassment.”

About registration of FIRs against rioters and hooligans, he said investigators would investigate the matter honestly and only actual perpetrators of these crimes would be taken to task.

He said it was an organised lawlessness which had been witnessed on Dec 27 in the aftermath of Ms Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

He said the country needed continuity of democracy and the electoral process should not be interrupted.

He sought cooperation of all stakeholders, including political parties, in the Feb 18 polls.

He said the government had credible information of security threats before Ashura but thanks to exemplary cooperation of Ulema, people and surveillance by law-enforcement agencies, the government efficiently handled the situation.

“It was combined efforts of Ulema, people and law-enforcement agencies that no unpleasant incident occurred otherwise we had credible information about subversive activities. Ulema were taken on board and they were briefed that the country is passing through a critical phase. Such cooperation is again required for holding Feb 18 polls,” he appealed.

The governor said that every political party should disseminate its message while ensuring a peaceful atmosphere. He said it was badly needed that the people were given a sense of security so that they could come to polling stations to exercise their right of franchise.

EDUCATION: The governor also performed the inauguration ceremony of English-medium schools established by the district government at the Circuit House during his visit to the city.