HYDERABAD, June 7: The Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has asked the lawyers of Sindh to refrain from destabilising the government by taking part in long march.

The government needs some time to resolve this constitutional issue accordingly, he told members of the Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA) on Saturday.

PPP workers forcefully entered into bar room, made commotion, rendered inaudible the speeches, broke glass door of barroom and refused to listen to repeated calls of the office-bearers.

He lauded the HDBA for its struggle for democracy, supremacy of parliament and constitution and promised allotment of land for lawyers’ housing society. He denied the PPP of striking deal with anyone as the government was firm on implementing the five-point programme given by the chairperson.

“One can say the long march is against President Pervez Musharraf but factually it was against the government as both, the Prime Minister and the government was our - why destabilise it?”, he said while discussing the long march and plan of Sindh’s lawyers to make it a success.

“I supported Munir A. Malik over deposed CJ’s arrival in Karachi on May 12, 2007”, he said in reference to firing incident at Malik’s house which shook him up as to whether or not invite the deposed CJ to Karachi.

The government was confronted with serious economic issues as such the PPP took all on board, he said adding “thrusting 30-day deadline on the government is not a way to resolve important issues.” He assured lawyers of accommodating them in other departments.

Later, speaking at a meet the press programme, he said the government had ensured freedom to political parties and was not involved in vindictive action against opponents. The federal government gave a package for jobless youth and the Sindh will unveil package in the budget, he said and denied giving jobs to favourites.

He said the World Bank, the European Union and the Asian Development Bank were willing to assist provincial government in economy, health and education.

Various companies were willing to invest in Thar coal exploration project, he said adding the Sindh and federal governments will execute it on the basis of public private partnership and expressed the hope that Keti Bundar project will be commenced in this tenure.

He said drainage issues of Hyderabad had not been addressed although it was a historic city. He announced allotment of land for Hyderabad’s journalists which would be given to them after proper development and with soft loans for building homes.

He said the government would ensure provision of 240-square-yard plots in cities. He said peasants will get land with major share to women. He said jirgas deciding marriage of teenaged girls will not be allowed.

He said the National Finance Commission (NFC) Sindh had recommended names and hopefully its formula would be given weight as the province contributes 70 per cent in terms of revenue.