May 28, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1429

NAWABSHAH, May 27: In a novel way to complain about their plight and register protest over government’s neglect of their class, a group of artistes staged a demonstration outside the press club on Tuesday, while singing and playing musical instruments.

“Since the murder of our beloved leader Benazir Bhutto we feel like orphans as the leaders have no time to meet us and solve our problems,” they complained.

Mohammed Hashim Solangi (singer), Master Imdad Hussain (singer), Ustad Abdul Ghani (singer), Majid Khan (dholak nawaz), Ali Raza (percussionist), Mohammed Ali (dholak nawaz), Master Imran (dholak nawaz), Mohammed Ali Siyal, Munawar Ali Siyal and Syed Feroze Shah Bukhari, lyricist, led the protest against the leaders of Pakistan People’s Party.

The protesters, singing songs in praise of slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, told Dawn that they had sung and performed in all the party functions and events for years but the party leaders had never paid any attention to solving their problems.

They said that the leaders showed them love when they wanted to get votes but closed their doors in their faces after they came to power. They knew that they were busy but they just wanted them to meet them and listen to their woes, they complained.

“I am a senior party worker and supporter and I have been party member since it was founded by Bhutto Sahab,” said Syed Feroz Shah Bukhari, a senior lyricist.

He said that he and other folk artistes and performers faced many problems relating to health and livelihood but no party leader was ready to listen to them.

He said that his group had come out with its first album after the assassination of Benazir Shaheed, which he had written on Benazir’s homecoming but unfortunately they could not get it recorded.