HYDERABAD, June 25: Qasimabad Taluka naib nazim Ghulam Hyder Shahani and members of the council have criticised the policies of the district government.

They urged the district nazim not to take any step that could lead to disharmony between residents of the city.

They were speaking at a press conference at the press club on Sunday.

Haider Shahani said that the Qasimabad taluka had always been neglected and with the increase in population, the problems of the people had multiplied.

He said that after the division of the Hyderabad district, Sindhis in general and the people of Qasimabad in particular had expressed strong reservations.

He alleged that with the advent of the MQM district government, the fears of discrimination had increased.

Mr Shahani said that the correct course for the MQM district nazim should have been to take positive steps to allay the fears.

He alleged that the nazim had adopted a negative attitude which had created a gulf between the two communities in the area.

He said that he himself had supported the district nazim and naib nazim but unfortunately his hand of friendship had not been accepted.

He said that in the recently held district council session, members from the Qasimabad taluka were humiliated and thrown out of the council meeting.

He said that the TMA Qasimabad was not consulted in the matter of Niaz Stadium which was being handed over to the Pakistan Cricket Board.

He said that the stadium was the exclusive property of the taluka.

He said that recently when food was served at a marriage ceremony held in the stadium, the district government had shifted the responsibility on the TMA which had to face the court’s proceedings.

He said that handing over the stadium to the PCB without the consent of the Qasimabad TMA was absolutely illegal and it would not be tolerated.

He also advised the PCB to get in touch with the TMA Qasimabad which owned the stadium.

He said that the Qasimabad TMA was also not taken into confidence with regards to the development of Rani Bagh.

He demanded that the Qasimabad TMA should be taken into confidence with regards to development packages announced by the president, prime minister and the Sindh governor.

He said that all the development works of Qasimabad should be under taken in consultation with the TMA.

He said that the HDA should be abolished and transferred to taluka administrations.

He took strong exception to the change in the name of Makhdoom Sarwar Nooh road (jail road) and made it clear that it was a very sensitive issue.

He appealed to the district government to resolve all the issues of the district in consultation with elected representatives and not to take any unilateral and arbitrary decision which might lead to a divide between the two communities.