BADIN, Oct 22: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said the country cannot be strong unless the smaller provinces get their due rights.

Speaking by telephone from London at a meeting of party activists here on Tuesday, he referred to injustices being committed against Sindh, says a MQM press release on Wednesday.

He said Sindh had been deprived of its water share which had rendered fertile lands of the province barren.

He regretted that whatever little water was supplied to the province was stolen by landlords.

He said thousands of acres were also distributed among retired civil and military officers who did not belong to the province.

The Muttahida chief said Sindhis were being denied jobs in mills, industries and multinational companies.

He said political and religious leaders claiming to be struggling for the rights of the province were representatives of landlords and feudal lords as they had never talked about interests of the common people but always collaborated with the establishment.

About construction of the Kalabagh dam and the Thal canal, he said the provinces should be taken into confidence on the issue and the government should not impose its decision in this regard.

Mr Hussain also congratulated newly-elected office-bearers of the party.