LARKANA, Jan 16: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has offered Shaista Almani to live in his house (Nine Zero) at Karachi.

In his telephonic address to party activists here on Friday night, he asked the newly-elected Senator Dr Mohammed Ali Brohi, who hails from Larkana, and MQM ministers to strive hard to get a full medical university status for the Chandka Medical College.

He urged the government to construct a bridge over the River Indus connecting Larkana and Khairpur districts that had been the protracted demanded of the people of this area.

Narrating the ordeal of Shaista Almani, he said following learning about that sad episode, it looked me strange to sit in the government when we could not protect a girl calling for safety and security against the brutal custom of Karo-kari.

"The secretary to President General Musharraf was informed with the demand for protection to the girl within 48 hours" he said. The orders for providing life protection to Shaista Almani had been passed on to the quarters concerned by the president, Altaf said and added that even the Sindh governor played his part.

He thanked Gen Musharraf for issuing orders for the life security of Shaista and disclosed that MQMs coordination committee was in session and would arrive at final decision in this connection.

He said the MQM stood against the custom that permits to kill innocent girls under the tradition of Karo-kari. He criticized feudal lords for their role and announced that cracks in their palaces had appeared with Dr Mohammed Ali Brohi's elevation as the Senator.

Criticizing previous governments, he asked the MQM ministers to look into the battered roads and outdated drainage system of Larkana and called for steps to improving them.

He announced that the MQM took lead in announcing the regularization of Kutchi abadis in Larkana. He called for quota for disabled and widows in Katchi Abadis. Earlier, Senator Dr Brohi, MQM's zonal head Ubed Buledi and others also spoke.

NAZIM: Dokri Taluka Naib Nazim Mohammad Arijo has alleged that the taluka Nazim and his associates are issuing threats to him. He told journalists here on Thursday the Nazim and his associates turned against him after he refused to allow private persons to attend taluka council meetings.