HYDERABAD, Jan 12: An All Parties Conference held here on Wednesday failed to evolve a consensus on the proposed bifurcation of Hyderabad and formation of a city district government comprising three urban talukas of the city.

However, the conference, organized by the People's Party Parliamentarians at the press club, passed a resolution with majority, opposing the district bifurcation and terming it division of Sindh.

Speaking on the occasion, Hyderabad PPP president Abdul Sattar Bachani, who presided over the conference, criticized the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for adopting double standards. He observed that on the one hand, it championed the cause of Sindh and on the other, floated the bifurcation proposal.

He said Hyderabad was easily accessible to everyone living in its eight talukas and its bifurcation would affect people economically. He supported the district nazim's proposal of formation of a city district government comprising 17 towns.

He said the rulers and political parties should prefer collective benefits. The deputy opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman, said the Sindh chief minister should resign in protest against such anti-Sindh proposal.

He urged the government to expose those who had floated the proposal because, he claimed, all MNAs and MPAs were against the bifurcation. Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Afzal Gujjar supported formation of a city government provided it was not based on ethnic lines.

Sindh Tarraqi Pasand Party vice-chairman Hyder Shahani, Awami Tehrik leader Dr Nazeer Shaikh, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F leader Taj Mohammad Nahyoon and Maula Bux Chandio declared to oppose the bifurcation plan and lodge a strong protest.

They said the issue concerned the whole of Sindh as constituencies were being created for favourites. They said under a conspiracy, the rulers were diverting attention of the masses from issues of controversial water projects and the National Finance Commission award.

The leaders said besides ethnic riots, the bifurcation would also cause infighting among Sindhis who would want their respective talukas declared district headquarters. Ibrahim Shaikh of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan also opposed the bifurcation on ethnic lines.