HYDERABAD, Aug 4: The chairman, Sindh Taraqqi Passand Party (STPP), Dr Qadir Magsi, who is also the provincial president Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONAM), has condemned the policy of the federal government to directly deal with the financial matters of the local councils.

In a statement issued on Saturday, he said that this policy which was based on mala fide intentions was aimed at undermining the authority of the local councils.

He said direct interference by the federation will make the district and city governments subservient to the centre and destroy the local councils in totality.

He said on the one hand the rulers were beating the drum for decentralization of powers and on the other all the powers were being centralized.

He claimed that even at the time when the government had announced the devolution of power plan, his party had unequivocally informed the people that this plan was a conspiracy to centralize all powers in the hands of the federation.

He said time had proved that the stand taken by his party was correct.

Mr Magsi said that during the last 50 years, successive governments had totally disregarded the basic principles of provincial autonomy and refused to accept the provincial entities.

He said this had created disharmony among the provinces as well as the provinces and the federation.

He claimed that it was due to these policies that East Pakistan had become Bangladesh.

He said the provinces were fed up and frustrated with the supremacy and expansionist designs of Punjab.

He warned that if the federal government did not change its attitude, the consequences would be disastrous for the unity of Pakistan.

CITY UNION: The chairman, Taluka Council, Hyderabad city workers union (CBA), Chundgi Lal, its senior vice president, Shamoon Sharif, its general secretary, Mohammed Akram Rajput, and the office bearers of Latifabad and Qasimabad workers union, Bashir Nawab and Syed Eijaz Ali Shah respectively, have demanded President Pervez Musharraf, federal minister for local bodies, and the Sindh governor to order the release of the salaries of local council employees without any further delay.