LARKANA, May 9: Sindh National Front (SNF) Chairman Mumtaz Ali Bhutto on Wednesday praised former Bangladeshi prime ministers Shaikh Hasina Wajid and Khalida Zia for refusing to ‘toe the government’s line’ and deciding to return to their country to face charges against them.

Talking to different delegations who called on him in Mirpur Bhutto, his native village, he said that sincere leaders would neither betray their people nor leave them on their own. Even the fear of cases, jails and absence of guarantees could not deter the two from coming back, he said.

He said that exoneration of Asif Ali Zardari from Mir Murtaza Bhutto’s case and corruption charges indicated continued backdoor dialogues between the government and Benazir Bhutto.

It was more probable that the agreement would be reached on the winding up of cases in return for her assurance that she would opt to live abroad, he said. He also said he believed that the PPP would support Gen Musharraf in the general elections.

The terms being discussed in the dialogues had been deliberately disclosed at this juncture to stop PPP members from joining the rulers’ camp. The step might help them gain some time, he said.

He said that the rising tide of lawlessness had overshadowed all the other problems and accused police of compounding peoples’ problems.

The police had not only completely failed in safeguarding people’s lives but also outclassed the criminals in torturing innocents.

Mr Bhutto held Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) responsible for prevailing lawlessness in the province as he said the party had a firm control on the police and the entire provincial government. Gen Musharraf also patted the MQM’s back, he added.

There was no way out for Sindhis except a joint struggle for safeguarding their lives, honour and property, he added.

CMC: The principal of the Chandka Medical College (CMC) Prof Sikandar Ali Shaikh announced on Wednesday summer vacations from June 1 to July 31 for the students of 1st year MBBS (Batch-35), 2nd year (Batch-34), 3rd year (Batch-33) and 4th year (Batch-32).