Information on the March 1997 attack on former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Ghanzafar Ali Gill from the Gujrat area could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

However, according to the attached 6 March 1997 Agence France Presse (AFP) article, Ghazanfar Ali Gul, a PPP leader and former member of parliament, was attacked in the city of Gujrat by an unidentified gunman riding a motorcycle. Gul sustained injuries (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

According to the attached 4 February 1997 report from Radio Pakistan Network, Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gul was among the "prominent" leaders who lost in the 3 February 1997 national assembly elections.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 6 March 1997. "Bhutto's Political Associate Injured in Pakistan Attack." (NEXIS)

Radio Pakistan Network [Islamabad, in English]. 4 February 1997. "Pakistan: Sharif's Party Wins 'Comfortable Majority'." (FBIS-NES-97-024 4 Feb. 1997/WNC)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 6 March 1997. "Bhutto's Political Associate Injured in Pakistan Attack." (NEXIS)

Radio Pakistan Network [Islamabad, in English]. 4 February 1997. "Pakistan: Sharif's Party Wins 'Comfortable Majority'." (FBIS-NES-97-024 4 Feb. 1997/WNC)

Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. Weekly. March-May 1997.

Dawn Wire Service (DWS) [Karachi]. Weekly. March 1997 (WWW).

DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa]. Weekly. March-May 1997.

_____. "Pakistan" country file. February-April 1997.

_____. "Pakistan: Amnesty International" country file. January-May 1997.

The Economist [London]. Weekly. March-April 1997.

L'Éxpress [Paris]. Weekly. March-April 1997.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports (WNC).

The Herald [Karachi]. Monthly. March-May 1997.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. Monthly. March-May 1997.

On-line/databases: SHARENet, World Wide Web (WWW).