'PDM to hold show of force on Feb 9 in Hyderabad'.

HYDERABAD -- The Pakistan DemoAcratic Movement (PDM) will hold a public meeting on Feb 9 in Hyderabad for which arrangements are being finalised.

This was stated by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh president Nisar Ahmed Khuhro at a media briefing at the residence of MPA Jam Khan Shoro in Qasimabad here on Saturday.

Before holding the briefing, Mr Khuhro chaired a meeting of PPP's Hyderabad division chapter to discuss the arrangements for the public meeting, to be held at Hatri bypass. He announced the names of the members of the organising and media committees for the PDM show.

Answering various questions posed by media men, Mr Khuhro criticised the federal government for raising petroleum prices thrice in a month. He argued that a hike in petroleum prices always affected common man, who was dependent on public and private transport. Such an increase, he added, also affected the agriculture sector where diesel was mainly used for running machinery. 'A hike in fuel prices affects 70pc of the population,' he said.

He said price hike had reached its zenith while development sector faced a decline. He also deplored the federal government for not increasing workers' salaries that could enable them to face inflation.

Referring to a State Bank report suggesting that cotton production had registered a decline, he said this showed [federal] government's incompetence.

Mr Khuhro told a questioner that government could be ousted either through no-confidence...