28 March 2004	Sunday	06 Safar 1425

HYDERABAD, March 27: The Qasimabad Coordination Committee activists continued observing a token hunger strike outside the press club here on Saturday.

They were protesting against the prime minister for backing out of the development package promised for the district and demanded restoration of the package.

Activists of the Qasimabad Coordination Committee and social welfare organizations and councillors participated in the hunger strike.

They were led by MPA Zahid Bhurgari, Hyderabad City Taluka Naib Nazim Abdul Qadeer Naghar, People's Party Parliamentarians leader Jam Saqi, Labour Party of Pakistan leader Dost Mohammad Channa, Bhitai Welfare Association president Ferozuddin, Ms Nazeer Qureshi and Zain Daudpoto.

Talking to journalists, they took strong exception to disowning of the Rs10.5 billion Hyderabad development package by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali. They said that Rs2.25 billion had been earmarked for development of the Qasimabad taluka in the package.

They demanded that the package should be restored and Qasimabad should be given its due share to provide basic facilities to people.

They also criticized builders' mafia and government organizations for creating problems for people of Qasimabad who, they said, had been denied basic facilities.

DEMO: The Hyderabad Councillors' Ittehad held a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Friday against the decision of Nadra to deprive councillors of the authority to attest documents.

Speaking on the occasion, City Taluka Naib Nazim Abdul Qadeer Naghar, Q. Mohammad Hakim, Jeando Soomro, Yaqoob Bhatti and others said the Nadra decision would create problems for people.

They said they would continue their protest till their right to attest NICs and other documents was restored.