HYDERABAD, July 1: A large number of elected councillers from Qasimabad, led by the taluka naib nazim Dr Hyder Shahani, staged a token hunger strike at Naseem Nagar chowk, Qasimabad, here on Sunday to protest step-motherly treatment being meted out to Qasimabad taluka in development works.

Scores of people belonging to different parties also joined the hunger strike.

Speaking on the occasion, the acting chairman of STP, Dr Abdul Hameed Memon, said that by ignoring Qasimabad taluka, the district nazim of Hyderabad had proved that he was not the nazim of Hyderabad but of MQM.

He alleged that no development works were being carried out in Qasimabad and Hyderabad rural talukas.

He said his party will not tolerate such excesses against the Sindhis.

The taluka naib nazim, Dr Hyder Shahani, said that an understanding was reached with the district nazim on 17-points four months which could not be honoured by him.

He said the protest will continue till the implementation of all the 17-points.

He said, Niaz Stadium and Rani Bagh were the properties of Qasimabad taluka and a trauma centre had also been approved for Qasimabad.

He warned that interference of the district government in such affairs could not be tolerated.

Mr Shahani complained that the district government was not releasing funds even for the approved development schemes. He said the entire infrastructure of the taluka including roads and sewerage system had been destroyed but the district government had done nothing in this regard.

PPP leader Maula Bux Chandio held the district government and taluka nazim responsible for the decrepit condition of Qasimabad.

He said PPP would support the struggle of the elected representatives.

Gul Mohammad Jakhrani, a prominent leader of the Sindh National Front, SNF, in his speech said that Hyderabad district was bifurcated due to ulterior motives.

He said Qasimabad taluka has been ruined but the district government had done nothing to improve the situation.