HYDERABAD, June 15: Activists of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party took out a protest procession here on Wednesday. They were protesting against issuance of NICs to foreigners, demolition of Sindhi villages in Karachi, division of districts, construction of the Kalabagh dam and the greater Thal canal and delay in announcement of the NFC award on the basis of income generation.

Led by STPP chairman Dr Qadir Magsi and other party leaders of the party, the procession started from the City Gate Hotel up and after marching through different roads culminated outside the press club where the protesters staged a sit-in.

A heavy contingent of police was deployed at the press club.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Magsi observed that no one could dispossess Sindhis of their motherland.

Directly addressing Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz chairman Basheer Khan Qureshi and general secretary Abdul Wahid Areesar, he asked them to explain what they had achieved from friendship with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, except for treachery. He advised them to join patriotic forces of Sindh.

He was highly critical of the role of the MQM and also lashed out at the Sindh chief minister.

Dr Magsi alleged that ancient villages of Sindhis were being demolished in Karachi at the behest of the MQM because it wanted to rehabilitate those people there who would enter Sindh through the Khokhrapar route. He observed that Sindhis would be converted into a minority if the Khokhrapar route was opened. He maintained that Sindhis would resist the move.

He accused the Centre of hatching conspiracies against the unity of Sindh and added that the MQM had been given a target in this regard. He said under this conspiracy, cities of the province were being given to the Muttahida.

The STPP chief said if Pakistan was to remain intact, the sovereignty of the provinces would have to be restored to original inhabitants.

He asked the rulers to pay heed to protests of Sindhis, otherwise consequences would be disastrous.

He demanded that demolition of Sindhi villages should be stopped forthwith and Sindhis be given employment in multinational companies in Karachi without any condition of domicile.

The others who spoke on the occasion included party senior vice-chairman Haider Shahani, Sindh Nari Tehrik president Sehar Rizvi, Haut Khan Gadhi, Hameed Memon and Muzaffar Kalhoro.