LARKANA, Oct 16: The leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly, Mr Nisar Khuhro, has said that allowing Gen Pervez Musharraf to hold the post of the army chief together with the presidency is a blow to democracy.

Talking to Dawn here on Saturday, Mr Khuhro said after the passage of bill through the National Assembly, it seemed that assemblies were working under the umbrella of Gen Musharraf

He said the bill would prove disastrous for the parliamentary system of governance.

He said the nation had rejected the presidential form of government which did not suit this country.

He said the Pakistan Muslim League and its allies were grossly mistaken to understand that Gen Musharraf's actions were in line with their party policies.

The MMA had finally confessed to have committed a mistake for giving Dec 31 deadline to President Musharraf for taking off his uniform.

Mr Khuhro said other countries should not support Gen Musharraf's unconstitutional steps as he was tightening noose around democracy and the democratic forces in the country.

He said the People's Party Parliamentarian would stand against all odds.

He feared that President Musharraf might dissolve assemblies after seeing a mounting pressure around him.

He said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, once a bitter opponent of the army, had now become a staunch supporter of Gen Musharraf.

NAZIM: District Nazim Khursheed Junejo has said the district government is trying its level best to promote girl education.

Speaking at a cheque distributing ceremony at the St. Joseph High School, he said an amount of Rs10,757,200 was distributed as scholarships among girl students from class seventh to eighth in the district which had benefited 15,464 students.

Mr Junejo said the award of scholarship to girl students would not only register increase in attendance but also financially assist them.

It would also encourage meritorious students on other side, he said.

He announced construction of two additional class rooms for the school and an amount of Rs250,000 for the maintenance and repair of the school.

He announced an amount of Rs40,000 from the school management committee fund for the school.

He also gave away performance certificates to 10 best teachers of the school.