SUKKUR, Oct 14: Small traders of the city have deferred their proposed sit-in on railway track till November 15 due to critical situation of the country and on the assurance of the district Nazim Syed Nasir Hussain Shah.

The traders had announced to stage sit-in on the railway track to press for their demands which include addition of air-conditioned bogies to Sukkur Express.

Speaking at a press conference, president of the traders association, Haji Haroon Memon said that the preparations of the sit-in had been completed but they were assured by the district government that it would take up the traders’ demand with the Railway authorities and asked to defer their protest plan for a month.

He said that the religious parties had also given a strike call against US strikes on Afghanistan for Oct 15, the day of the traders’ proposed sit-in, and the traders did not want their protest to play second fiddle to the religious parties’ protest.

Mr Memon therefore announced to delay the sit-in for a month.

He repeated the traders’ demand for addition of three AC bogies and new locomotive to Sukkur Express and also change in the timings of the train’s departure and arrival here.

The press conference was also attended by Sukkur district Naib Nazim Iqbal Dawood Pakwala.

BYE-ELECTIONS: As many as 36 candidates are contesting the bye-election against seven vacant seats of union council Nazims in Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, and Nawabshah districts respectively.

According to the Deputy Election Commissioner (Field), Sukkur, two candidates are contesting in union council Shaheed Ganj and five in Shamsabad (both in Sukkur District), four are contesting in union council Hussain Beli and three in union council Keenjhar (both in Ghotki District), nine are contesting in union council Machyoon and four in union council Therhi (both in Khairpur District), and nine candidates are contesting in union council 4, Nawabshah.

Zafar Hussain Arain has been declared unopposed Nazim of union council 9, Nawabshah.

Election symbols have been allotted to all candidates. Bye-elections will be held on Oct 16.