BAHAWALPUR, Feb 19: Around 600 office-bearers and activists of the PML-Q at Ahmedpur East have tendered resignations as a protest against the registration of a case against some of them on Wednesday by Uch Sharif police.

This was claimed here on Thursday by Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Science and Technology Makhdoom Ali Hassan Gilani, who is one of the nominees in the FIR.

Denying charges of interfering in the duty of the tehsil municipal administration staff, he said the workers had handed over their resignations to him. He said the registration of a case against him and his men was meant to victimize the ruling party men and Tehsil Nazim Makhdoom Samiul Hassan Gilani (his step-brother).

The allegations of beating up Tehsil Officer (regulation) Naeemul Hassan Siddiqui and obstructing the anti-encroachment operation were fabricated, he said. The federal secretary said he would contact Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to apprise them of the victimization of the PML men and the tehsil Nazim.

He also assured his supporters that he would raise this issue on the floor of the National Assembly.

MUHARRAM: The district police had not made any requisition for seeking army's assistance for maintaining law and order during Muharram, DPO Sikandar Hayat told newsmen at his office on Thursday.

He said police alone could handle the situation, as it had done last year during Muharram in the district. He said 206 constables, in addition to 1,865 personnel from the Punjab constabulary, volunteers, civil defence organization, and the Elite Force would guard against any untoward incident.

As many as 247 processions would be taken out in the district for which elaborate arrangements had been made, he said. The DPO said strict action would be taken for violating the ban on misuse of loudspeakers.

GANGS' BUSTED: The DPO claimed here on Wednesday that police had smashed three gangs of robbers and thieves, who were operating in parts of the Punjab. He said the police had recovered valuables and several vehicles from them.

KABADDI MATCH: Arrangements are being finalized to hold a kabaddi match between Pakistan and visiting Indian teams at the Bahawalpur stadium tomorrow (Saturday). The district council had sanctioned Rs150,000 for this purpose at a recently-held meeting.