HYDERABAD, April 10: Hyderabad District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman has refused to accept the division of Hyderabad and said he is still the nazim of the undivided district. He was talking to journalists at a tea party hosted in his honour by the Hyderabad Press Club here on Sunday. Mr Rafiquzzaman said he was not attending the office in protest but made it clear that any business conducted by

any official of the district

government without his approval would be illegal adding that he reserved the right to move the court against any business conducted without his approval.

He said no notification of his removal as the district nazim had been issued and, therefore, he continued to be the head of the district government according to law.

He, however, said he would not challenge the division of Hyderabad in the court.

Mr Rafiquzzaman said the entire exercise had been carried out to weaken the People’s Party Parliamentarians which would prove futile.

He apprehended that at a later stage, another notification would be issued to change constituencies with a view to harming the PPP.

He disclosed that he had written letters to the president, prime minister and the Sindh governor to intervene in the matter and revoke the decision of dividing Hyderabad.

Our Nawabshah Correspondent adds: Activists of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party and its students’ wing observed a token hunger strike outside the press club here on Sunday against the division of Hyderabad.

They were led by Saleem Lund and Imran Ali Keerio.

They said Hyderabad was divided to please the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

They warned that they would expand the scope of their protest if the division of the district was not cancelled.

PPP-SB: PPP(SB) Sindh president Meon Khan Rind has termed the division of Hyderabad a conspiracy under which the MQM would demand to make Karachi a province at some later stage.

Talking to journalists here on Sunday, he alleged that the chief minister was fulfilling old dreams of the MQM and feared that Sukkur might also be divided like Hyderabad in future to please the party.

He said the matter should have been discussed in the Sindh Assembly and elected representatives of people should have been taken into confidence before deciding division of Hyderabad.

He said his party would not accept the division of the district.