06 February 2004	Friday	14 Zilhaj 1424

HYDERABAD, Feb 5: A central council member of Jamiat Ulema-i- Islam (Sami), Sahibzada Hifzur Rehman Shams, announced on Thursday that his party would not respond to the strike call given by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for Feb 6 in protest as his party had not been taken into confidence in this regard.

In a statement, he said the strike call had been given by an individual and his party was not even consulted.

He said party chief Maulana Samiul Haq had informed him on telephone from Akora Khattak that he was absolutely kept in the dark abut the strike.

Sahibzada Shams said the central Majlis-i-Shoora of the party had sent a written complaint to the central leadership of the MMA underlining some issues but the complaints had been totally ignored.

Under the circumstances, he said, his party had decided to boycott all MMA's programmes.

He said a four-page document about the grievances of JUI-S had been sent to Maulana Fazalur Rehman and Qazi Hussain Ahmed requesting them not to ignore the MMA affiliates with a view to saving the MMA from disintegration and strengthening the Islamic ideology. He said the reply of the MMA leaders was still awaited.

SNP: The Sindh National Party announced here on Thursday that whatever the consequences the party would go ahead with its programme of holding protest march from Bhitshah to Hyderabad on Feb 9 against the construction of Greater Thal Canal and Kalabagh Dam.

In a statement SNP chairman, Amir Bhambhro said all the projects were constructed for the benefit of only one province and added that Sindh was turned into a colony.

He warned if all the federating units were not given equal rights even the nuclear weapons would not be able to save Pakistan. He said 75 per cent construction of Greater Thal canal had already been completed despite Sindh's opposition to it.

Criticizing the nationalist leaders, he urged them to discard their personal egos and unite on one platform to save Sindh.