SANGHAR, Sept 30: The Sanghar District Council adopted a resolution on Thursday urging President Gen Pervez Musharraf retain his army post. The resolution was tabled by members of the Faqir Dost Panel , backed by Pir Pagaro's party. People's Party Parliamentarians-backed Awam Dost Panel opposed the resolution.

District Nazim Roshan Din Junejo praised Gen Musharraf for extending the term of the present local government by one year. Dr Hashim, Rana Shaukat, Jamaldin and others also spoke in favour of the president's uniform.

ADP member Faisal Wassan criticized the council members who had tabled the resolution. There are 82 members in the district council. The Al-Falah group of the Jamaat-i-Islami and majority of the ADP members did not attend the session.

A total of 45 members supported the resolution whereas 10 voted against it. The council members also demanded that Nadra should send a mobile van to the Khipro taluka to make Computerized National Identity Cards.

They demanded a relief package for Achhro Thar. Faisal Wassan alleged that fake medicines were being sold in Khipro in connivance with drug inspectors. Jafar Junejo regretted that hepatitis-B and C had spread in the Sindhri Union Council but no efforts had been made to control the disease.

The district officer, health, Dr Ghaffar Shaikh, said 10 per cent people in the country were infected with hepatitis. He said Rs900 million was required to eradicate the disease in the Sanghar district. The members also complained about the poor quality of development works.

COTTON: The rate of cotton phutti declined on Thursday because traders were offering Rs750 to Rs780 per 40 kilograms. The traders also deducted 2kgs on 40kgs of phutti. Farmers said the government had fixed minimum support price of phutti at Rs925 per 40kgs.

They said over 500,000 acres of land were under cotton cultivation in Sanghar but the Trading Corporation of Pakistan had established no centre in the district.