KARACHI, Sep 15: Chairman of the Sindh National Front Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto said on Wednesday that politicians should take up with the government the issues related to people's grievances instead of wasting their time and energy on the issue of president's uniform.

"Politicians have indulged themselves in the uniform issue to the extent that they are not able to may efforts for real issues. The fact, however, is that common man is least bothered about the issue of uniform," he said while talking to people who called on him at Mirpur Bhutto, Larkana district, on Wednesday, according to an SNF press release.

Sardar Bhutto was of the view that common man did not have any interest in the matter of civilian or military rule. "What a citizen wants is security of life, end to price hike, availability of jobs, adequate water, uninterrupted and cheaper electricity, as well as better education and healthcare facilities," he said, insisting that elected representatives should take up such issues.

About his meeting with President Musharraf, the SNF chief said the president attitude on the idea of transferring maximum powers to provinces was positive. Sardar Bhutto said that more powers for provinces could be achieved through talks with the president.

He advised Sindhi, Baloch and Pakhtoon nationalists to start negotiations on their demands. In reply to a question, he said: "The PPP leadership becomes staunch nationalist when it is out of power contrary the role its plays when in power." He added, Ms Benazir was opposing the Kalabagh dam project because she did not expect support (for her party) from Punjab. -PPI