LARKANA, Jan 25 A 20-member delegation of the Progressive Writers Association on Friday visited Garhi Khuda Bux Bhutto to pay respect to slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto. They laid floral wreath on her grave.

The delegation comprising writers and poets from Karachi and Hyderabad, including Zahida Hina, Rahat Saeed, Nasir Jalib and Nadeem Sibtain, also offered condolence with the bereaved family and PPP leaders in Naudero.

Talking to this correspondent, the delegation members said that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto was a national tragedy and a great loss to the country. Terming the assassination a political murder, they said it was an attempt to suppress hopes and aspiration of people.

They said anti-democratic forces were trying to undermine the importance of this tragedy by fomenting linguistic hatred. They said these forces were trying to divide Sindh linguistically for their political objectives.

The members said they had come to spread the message of peace, brotherhood and harmony. The dictatorial regime and its imperialist collaborators were targeting popular leadership to harass the people, they said, adding that the regime wanted to give an impression that democracy, religious freedom and social equality were impossible through people's struggle.

The members said the undemocratic forces were responsible for violence in politics and military interventions with a desire to perpetuate their rule.

Condemning the government, they said the wrong policies had created massive price hike and unemployment. The government was responsible for criminalisation of the society during the last eight years, they added.

They said economic inequality was generating deprivation among the masses.

The delegates alleged that the regime had created crises such as wheat shortage, power shutdown and street crimes to divert people's attention from the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

The members said the struggle began in March last year against the military government would continue till the restoration of independent judiciary and the establishment of true democracy in the country.

They termed the assassination of Benazir Bhutto a loss to the struggle against dictatorial forces.

DIALOGUE The delegates later attended a dialogue on 'Understanding Current Political Situation in Pakistan and the Role of Civil Society' held under the auspices of the Writers Club and Liberal Forum Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion veteran communist leader comrade Sobho Gianchandani, Zahida Hina, Dr Zulfikar Rahoojo, Dr Khalil Kazi, Ms Kalpna Devi, Rahat Saeed and others said that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto was a part of global corporate interests of anti-democratic forces.

The civil society and pro-democratic forces should unite to fight against this conspiracy, they said. Comrade Sobho said Benazir's murder was a big loss to literature.

Criticising President Pervez Musharraf, he condemned the attempts to give linguistic colour to the violence in Sindh.

Meeting Caretaker Sindh Home Minister Brig (Rtd) Akhtar Zamin will meet representatives of different political parties to review and discuss the election process and arrangements in Jacobabad, Qambar-Shahdadkot and Larkana districts on Saturday (today).

He would also preside over a meeting to review law and order situation with district Nazims, DCOs, DPOs of districts Jacobabad and Kashmore, Larkana and Qambar-Shahdakdot districts at Circuit House Jacobabad and Larkana.

CNIC In order to provide computerized national identity cards (CNICs) to the people of rural areas of Larkana, Kashmore, Jacobabad and Shikarpur districts, Nadra vans would begin visit from January 28 to February 02.

A van would cover union councils of Mahar Wada, Mad Bahu and Garello, Larkana district, from January 28 to February 02 while another will visit Khewali, Guddu and Kashmore-II taluka, Kandhkot-Kashmore district.

A van will visit Union Council Allah Abad, taluka Garhi Khairo, district Jacobabad during same dates. A van will visit Khanpur and Garhi Dakho union councils, Khanpur taluka, Shikarpur district, during the scheduled period.

Interested persons are advised to get their CNICs and cooperate with staff of mobile vans, said an announcement here, on Friday.