HYDERABAD, July 6: The Sindh chapter of the PONM at a meeting held here on Tuesday accused the rulers of destroying the political culture, democratic institutions and the Constitution.

The meeting of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations' Movement observed that naming Shaukat Aziz as the prime minister before his election as a member of the National Assembly was a joke with democracy.

It said the change of faces at the Centre and in Sindh would not make any difference in the obtaining political situation, saying the political crisis would not end unless radical changes were brought about in the political system.

The meeting observed that for all practical purposes, the presidential system had been imposed in the country. It demanded that fresh elections should be held for a new constituent assembly which should frame a new constitution, guaranteeing equal rights of the federating units.

The PONM condemned what it called artificial shortage of water in Sindh which had destroyed standing crops. It noted that the province was protesting against the water shortage but the rulers and Punjab were going ahead with construction of the greater Thal canal and the Kalabagh dam.

It decided to launch a movement against the water projects throughout Sindh. The meeting was of the opinion that explosions on gas and oil pipelines and electricity towers in Balochistan and Sindh were conspiracies hatched by agencies to crush the nationalist movement. It demanded immediate release of activists of nationalist parties who had been arrested in false bomb blast cases.

The PONM also accused Punjab of releasing poisonous water into the River Indus, resulting in the death of a large number of people. The meeting expressed condolence on the death of noted writer Jamal Abro, Rasheed Haider Rizvi and Sindh National Front leader Khushnood Chacha.

Sindh PONM president Dr Qadir Magsi presided over the meeting which was attended by Jeay Sindh Mahaz chairman Syed Zain Shah, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party leaders Haider Shahani and Nandlal Malhi, Sindh Hari Committee leaders Azhar Jatoi and Akbar Jatoi, SNF leaders Ayub Shar and Wali Mohammad Jamari, Sindh Jamiat Ulema-i- Islam chief Maulana Ubaidullah Bhutto, Sindh Sagar Party chairman Maulana Azizullah Bohio, Jeay Sindh Quam Parast Party leaders Qamar Bhatti and Dodo Deshi and Sindh Thinkers Forum leaders Inam Bhatti.