HYDERABAD, May 5: The Sindh chapter of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan has decided to observe a province-wide “black day” on May 12 and accused the coalition government of working under the patronage of President Musharraf and American policies.

The JUP leaders who met here on Sunday said that no party in the coalition except Pakistan Muslim League-N was sincere in restoring pre-Nov 3 judiciary at the instance excepting presidency,

He called on the government to order an investigation into the bloody incidents of May 12 and April 9 as well as Nishtar Park tragedy. If the deposed judges were not restored, no one would be able to stop the flood of protests, the meeting warned. If ministers and advisers of the coalition were sincere, they should announce that they would not receive salary or perks to provide some relief to the people, who were groaning under the weight of hyperinflation.

The meeting claimed that the government believed present coalition was also following the policies of the previous government and a result of which prices had increased by 100 per cent.

The meeting claimed that only a handful of people had benefited from the National Reconciliation Ordinance while the properties of the poor, who owed a few thousand rupees to the House Building and Finance Corporation, were being auctioned.

The meeting said that the former rulers, who owed billions of rupees to the banks, had been exempted from payment of loans and continued to live luxurious lives.

As if this was not enough, thousands of criminal cases had been withdrawn against the activists of an ethnic organisation, which was involved in the Nishtar Park, May 12 and April 9 incidents.

Asif Ali Zardari had greatly disappointed people because of his stand on the issue of sacked judiciary, the meeting noted. It said that the people were being deceived in the name of national reconciliation.

The meeting wondered why there was no accountability for millions of rupees spent on the foreign tours of the unconstitutional president and purchase of bullet proof limousine while the people were starving.

If the ministers and advisers of the coalition government had any sympathies with the masses, then they should forgo their salaries and perks to control price hike.

The meeting demanded legal action against hoarders, terrorists and criminals without any favour to control lawlessness in Sindh.

Sindh JUP president Mufti Mohammad Ibrahim Qadri presided over the meeting.