HYDERABAD, Jan 23: The president, Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponam), and chairman, Sindh Taraqqi Passand Party (STPP), Dr Qadir Magsi, has said that the increase in the national assembly seats and their distributions among various provinces will further strengthen the supremacy of Punjab.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, he said that increase in the national assembly seats would not benefit the oppressed nations as Punjab would completely dominate the national assembly and added that Ponam and STPP rejects the announcement by the government in this regard.

He said that previously there was a difference of only 14 seats between Punjab and the combined seats of other provinces but now Punjab would have 41 more seats in the house. This was tantamount to giving a blank cheque to Punjab for the enactment of any law, he said.

Mr Magsi said that there was no difference in the policies of the past and the present government except that new phrases were being used.

He said the oppressed nations did not want any charity but equal rights, complete autonomy, control over their own resources and self-respect. He warned that unless all the nations were guaranteed equal rights, the country would not be able to get rid of crisis.

In his opinion the present system had become totally out dated and no purpose could be served by introducing any amendments in the 1973 constitution.