HYDERABAD, July 25: Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party activists took out a rally here on Friday to protest against price hike, establishment of Thar Coal Authority and proposed demolition of 17 villages by the Karachi city government.

Led by STP leaders Hoat Khan Gadhi, Nand Lal Malhi and Ms Sehar Rizvi, carrying party flags, placards and banners and raising anti-government slogans, the participants marched from the Sindh University’s old campus to the press club. There they staged a sit-in for two hours as a result vehicular traffic was diverted to other roads.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gadhi said that 160 million people of the country had rejected President Pervez Musharraf and the policies of the coalition. “The people elected the Pakistan People’s Party with a massive mandate to eliminate the dictatorship, reinstate deposed judges, bring an end to poverty and unemployment and restore provincial autonomy but the government has disappointed the masses,” he said. The present government was the continuation of Musharraf government, he added.

Mr Malhi said that a government which could not provide drinking water, electricity and health cover to the people and eliminate lawlessness, had no right to rule.

He said that the federal government had no authority to take over the possession of Thar coal valued at billions of rupees and warned that the people of Sindh would not surrender their coal.

Dr Hyder Shahani said that due to inefficiency of the government, people were forced to commit suicide.

“The federation has always looted the resources of Sindh and committed injustices with the Sindhis,” he said and warned that the Sindhis should not be compelled to follow the Baloch to seek rights.

Ms Rizvi, Shoukat Abro, Mehboob Abro and others also spoke on the occasion.

The rally adopted several resolutions, calling upon the government to control price hike, abolish Thar Coal Authority and Thar Coal Board and restore Sindh Coal Authority.

Another resolution demanded withdrawal of the Karachi City Government’s notification to demolish 17 villages populated by Sindhi people.

Lawyers Protest: Lawyers boycotted courts for two hours here on Friday to protest against murder of Ahmed Mohammad Jamali advocate in Site area.

They said they would boycott courts for full day on Saturday.

Ahmed Mohammad Jamali was killed with his brother over a property dispute allegedly by Mohammad Idrees, alias Punhoo Jamali, in Jamali Goth in the limits of Site police station on July 22. The assailant also died the other day.

The lawyers wore black armbands and condemned the incident.

A meeting of lawyers, held in the barroom, demanded of the Sindh chief minister to arrest those who were involved in the crime and provide protection to family of slain lawyer.