HYDERABAD, May 26: Some 160 million people on February 18 voted for the ouster of President Musharraf but they are still hostage as the same old imperialist policies are being pursued, Awami Tehrik Chief Rasool Bux Palijo said and added: “Only faces have changed as Musharraf continues to be the de facto ruler.”

He spoke at the general council meeting of the workers of his party from Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Tando Mohammad Khan Tando Allahyar and Matiari districts on Sunday.

He said Indus River was an exclusive property of the people of Sindh and construction of any dam or canal on it would economically destroy 40 million people. He said even drinking water was not available for people and livestock of Sindh, what to say of irrigation water for crops.

The Sindh government was witnessing the situation as a silent spectator and may bargain over the eight years’ of struggle of Sindhi people on water issue, Palijo said. He said the only concern of “champions of change” was to “pay homage to terrorists.”

He called upon the people to unite for protection of Indus River, their resources and right of sovereignty and not to pin hopes on present rulers.

JUP: The Hyderabad Chapter of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan expressed concern over price hike, unemployment, loadshedding, water shortage, and lawlessness in a meeting on Monday.

It condemned the termination of services of some prayer leaders by the Auqaf Department and what it termed target killing of Ahle Sunnat leaders in the NWFP, and of the PML-N leader Tariq Khan in Karachi.

The meeting demanded immediate arrest of the murderers. Anwarul Haq presided over the meeting.