January 11, 2008	Friday	Muharram 01,1429

KHAIRPUR, Jan 10: Over 20 PPP workers were arrested by Faiz Ganj police on Thursday. Reports said that police raided different villages and arrested PPP activists.

PPP candidate for NA-216, Sajid Banbhan told journalists that the police were creating an atmosphere of harassment through political victimisation of PPP workers and their families. He added that the arrested PPP workers and their families were being pressured by the police to quit the party. He said that such actions were proof of pre-poll rigging.

He said that the police raided various villages in taluka Faiz Ganj on Thursday and arrested 20 PPP workers.

He said that the police have lodged them at different police pickets and police posts and their families were not allowed to meet them. He demanded immediate release of the arrested activists.

ACCUSED DIES: Meanwhile, an under trial prisoner facing the charge of being involved in burning the Larkana District Council hall in post-Benazir Bhutto assassination riots, died in Chandka Medical College Hospital on Thursday, reports our Larkana correspondent.

Akhtiar Sandano was referred to the hospital from the Larkana central prison after he had developed cardiac pain. The deceased, after being booked in the riots case, was sent to jail by the Anti-terrorist court Larkana on January 5, jail sources said.