KARACHI, Dec 9: The Jamaat-i-Islami Sindh chief, Asadullah Bhutto, has criticized the move to hand over 17 villages of Sindh to Punjab, and said boundaries between the provinces had been determined even before the creation of Pakistan.

He said there was no justification for the move.

Speaking at an Iftar party for journalists in a local hotel on Sunday, Mr Bhutto expressed surprise over the move as no such demand had been raised by the people of the Dehs (villages). He said the talk about transferring villages from Sindh to Punjab was only provoking the people which would result in creating hatred between the provinces.

He asked the government not to harm national interests for the benefit of a few persons.

The JI leader accused President Musharraf of a total failure in his internal and external policies as now, along with the eastern border, our western border has also become insecure.

“Gen Pervez Musharraf, instead of confronting the enemies, has started confronting patriotic people, religious political parties and is backing pro-US policies by turning the country into a police state,” he said.