KHAIRPUR, Feb 19: Sindh People's Party Parliamentarians president Syed Qaim Ali Shah has deplored the political and economic situation in the country, particularly in Sindh.

Talking to journalists at the Jilani House here on Saturday, he observed that poverty had increased in Sindh manifold despite the province was rich in natural resources and it had a seaport.

He claimed that the government had no respect for national and provincial assemblies. He said the Sindh government was not interested in summoning a session of the provincial assembly and whenever the opposition requisitioned a session, the government put its own agenda during the session.

He maintained that instead of taking steps to eliminate unemployment in the province, the Sindh government was sacking lower grade employees and not regularizing services of teachers and other employees working on contract.

He also regretted that more and more ministers and advisers were being inducted who were paid high salaries, TA/DA and other allowances. Mr Shah said the Sindh government was being run by the so-called majority where certain vested groups were getting their 'illegal' works done by hook or by crook.

He reiterated that protests against construction Kalabagh dam and Thal canal projects would continue. He observed that President Gen Pervez Musharraf would fail to get consent from Sindh for construction of the Kalabagh dam.

Referring to the Balochistan issue, he said the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy had convened a meeting in Dera Bugti on Feb 25 where important decisions would be taken. About the forthcoming local bodies' election, he alleged that Sindh ministers were trying to use government officials to rig the polls.