HYDERABAD, Jan 4: The Awami Tehrik has termed bifurcation of districts and the Qambar incident a ploy to divert people's attention from their real issues and concerns of Sindh.

At a central general council meeting held here on Monday, the party decided to take part in the next local bodies elections and called upon the Sindhis to unite on one platform for waging struggle for water rights.

Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo presided over the meeting. The meeting directed the party cadre to prepare lists of the Tehrik panel for contesting the elections. The party urged the workers to help people in registering their names in the voter lists.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Palijo said Sindh was being converted into a desert by diverting water of the Indus River. He blamed that the selfish landed gentry of Sindh were patronizing terrorists and bandits as a result crime had reached its peak.

Mr Palijo was of the view that killing of four protesting people in Qambar was a stratagem of the government and the feudal lords to sabotage the water movement.

SNC: The Sindh National Council has decided to launch an awareness movement to motivate people for launching a consistent movement for rights. The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the executive committee of the council here on Monday.