July 23, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 19, 1429

HYDERABAD, July 22: A large number of activists of Awami Tehrik and its sister bodies observed a token hunger strike outside the press club on Tuesday in protest against flour crisis, astronomical increase in fuel prices, electricity and essential consumer items.

The strikers raised slogans, calling for an end to lawlessness, unemployment, ban on admission of Sindhi students to Karachi’s educational institutions and employment in multinational companies and sale of irrigation water to landlords.

Party chief Rasool Bux Palijo said that phenomenal increase in the prices of daily-use items, hunger and unemployment had forced people to commit suicide and forced them to sell their children.

The doors of employment and education to academic institutions for Sindhis in Karachi had been closed and the provincial capital had been handed over to terrorists, he alleged.

He said that only ministers and landlords were getting irrigation water while the poor farmers and haris were made to starve. Everyday, new and fresh arguments were being advanced to delay restoration of chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhry and other deposed judges, Palijo said.

STP: The Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party’s Hyderabad chapter has decided to hold a rally, starting from Sindh University old campus and terminating at the press club, on July 25 in protest against rise in fuel prices and essential food items, handing over Thar Coal to federal government, demolition of 17 Sindhi villages in Karachi and giving quota in jobs to MQM.

The decision to this effect was taken at the district council meeting of the party on Tuesday.