HYDERABAD, March 21: Activists of the Jamaat-i-Islami, local chapter, held a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Sunday against the Wana operation.

Speaking on the occasion, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal district president Waheed Qureshi said the blood of "Mujahideen" was shed in Wana in exchange of American dollars. Mr Qureshi accused the president of working for the interests of America.

He said the price hike had broken the back of the people while the rulers lived in luxuries. Mr Qureshi said the prime minister had announced Rs10.5 billion Hyderabad Development Package and he had gone back on his promise.

JI city Amir Shaikh Shoukat Ali said when the Hyderabad Development Package was announced by the prime minister, the Muttehida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain had claimed that it was his feat.

He wondered why those who had threatened to leave the government on the issue of Shaista Almani had maintained a silence on the denial of prime minister Jamali that he had not announced any package for Hyderabad.

He said the people should join the protest of the Nazims of Hyderabad district. Mr Shaikh regretted that the people protested against an acute shortage of wheat flour but the prime minister told them to go back to their homes. He said this was tantamount to asking the people to eat cake if there was no bread.

District council member Rana Mehmood Ali said the people of Hyderabad stood right behind the district Nazim Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman for the restoration of development package.

He said if the Sindh government failed to restore the package then it would be a proof that the MQM was privy to the conspiracy for the withdrawal of the package. He demanded the Sindh governor's package of Rs500 million, ADP funds of Rs141 million and sugar cess amount of Rs86 million should be released forthwith.

PROTEST: A group of residents of Badin held a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Sunday to protest against electrocution of Ghulam Mustafa Khaskheli.