HYDERABAD, March 22: District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman has said taluka Nazims should collect resignations from their council members in protest against the treatment being meted out to the district.

Members of the City Taluka Council have already handed over their resignations to Nazim Moinuddin Shaikh. Talking to members of the Hyderabad District Council, who were wearing black arm bands, at the council hall on Monday, he said no one from secretariats of the prime minister or the president had contacted him to end the confusion created by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali's statement that he was unaware of the Hyderabad development package.

The Nazim called upon legislators of opposition and treasury benches to raise their voice on the issue as their schemes were also part of the package. He said he had come to know that in response to a query of People's Party Parliamentarians leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim at the National Assembly, Federal Minister Naurez Shakoor had told the house that the prime minister's statement was some kind of misunderstanding.

Flanked by three taluka Nazims, Moinuddin Shaikh, Abdul Jabbar Khan and Noor Mohammad Shoro, he said opposition members should exert pressure on the government for releasing the funds to the district.

He further said he had been talking to authorities concerned on the issue. Mr Rafiquzzaman informed the members that Rs141 million of the Annual Development Programme, 2002-2003, was likely to be released soon and Rs241 million of the governor's grant was also in the pipeline.

He said the expected fund release was a positive signal from the government and added that he would try to utilize the funds before new fiscal year. He said the silent protest of the members would continue till the problems were resolved.

About collection of resignations, he said it was a symbol of unity of members of taluka and district councils. The district Nazim said the issue of sugar cess funds was also being discussed.

He said the district would also get Rs20 to 30 million in the head of the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance which would be utilized on construction of roads. He told the members that he was also writing to the prime minister to clear the confusion over the package.