LARKANA, Feb 12: Chairman of the Sindh National Front Mumtaz Ali Bhutto has said the meeting of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, the two staunch rivals in the past, is a fraud with the Pakistani nation.

Talking to journalists at his residence here on Friday, he said both Ms Bhutto and Ms Sharif had betrayed people in the past and they were not sincere with the masses even now.

He said: "The military government's contacts with the PPP are aimed at deceiving people. Prior to this, the government came closer to religious parties and now it was talking to the PPP only to perpetuate its rule."

The SNF chief said the PPP had adopted the policy of running with hunter as hunter and with deer as deer.

About Asif Ali Zardar, Mr Bhutto predicted he would not return and history would throw them into oblivion.

Answering another question, he said Altaf Hussain was not sincere to the Baloch cause but had threatened to quit the government on the Balochistan issue to blackmail the government. He added that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief was not sincere to the Sindhis and he would never be sincere to the Baloch.

Mr Bhutto claimed President Gen Prevez Musharraf had told him that he would give autonomy and powers to provinces and added: "Let us see what he is going to do in this regard and when."

He said that smaller provinces had been facing identical problems for 57 years.

He demanded release of Wali Mohammad Rahmoon.

MEETING: The district coordination officer presided over a joint meeting of the District Peace Committee and Ulma of different sects here on Saturday.

Ulma from Dokri, Badeh, Larkana, Naudero and Ratodero and members of the peace committee and government officials attended the meeting.

The Ulma assured the meeting of their cooperation in maintaining peace in Muharram and pointed to problems, including streetlights, provision of a generator in the main imambargah in Larkana, cleanliness in the city and towns and supply of medicines for injured mourners.

The DCO urged the Ulema to exercise tolerance, ensure a sense of accommodation and unity and observe the Aashura in a peaceful manner.