HYDERABAD, July 8 Further division of Hyderabad would be tantamount to economic murder of its people, president of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Azizuddin Arain said at a news conference at the chamber's secretariat here on Thursday.

He said that any changes in the demography of the district would destroy its historical status and create economic problems.

He said that according to the 1999 population census, 122,397 people would be included in Tando Mohammad Khan district if the decision of bifurcation was implemented.

He said it was quite obvious that the income of Seri sugar mill and Tando Alam gas field royalty would also go to Tando Mohammad Khan district.

He argued that the sugar mill alone generated Rs2.1 million as octroi duty of which Hyderabad district would be deprived of.

He said the New Hyderabad city and other housing schemes of the district would also be affected due to their inclusion in Tando Mohammad Khan district. Even the Hyderabad Industrial Estate phase-II would also be transferred to Tando Mohammad Khan.

He demanded that the present demographic limits of Hyderabad should not be changed under any circumstances and Hyderabad should be given the status of the city district government.

AT President of the Awami Tahreek Ayaz Latif Palijo advocate has condemned the decision to further bifurcate Hyderabad district.

In a statement, he said the rulers were following the policies of Gen Musharraf and Arbab Ghulam Rahim.

He alleged that Hyderabad was being completely handed over to a racial organisation.

Mr Palejo reminded the PPP that in its own manifesto, it had unequivocally declared that the old status of Hyderabad would be restored.

But after coming into power, instead of restoring the old status, it was further trying to change the demography of this historic city, which would not be tolerated.

PML-F General secretary of the PML-F of Sindh chapter Nawab Rashid Ali Khan has also opposed the decision.

He regretted that the government had taken this decision without taking the people of the affected union councils into confidence.

He demanded of the government to rescind its decision forthwith.