Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s ruling party, the Awami National Party’s, is likely to face minimal opposition when it plans to table a resolution in the assembly today (Monday) against the Lahore High Court decision on the construction of Kalabagh Dam.
The move is likely to garner maximum backing as both opposition and treasury benches are opposing the construction of the controversial reservoir. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), coalition partner of ANP, opposition party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Aftab Sherpao’s Qaumi Watan Party (QWA) and independent MPAs are opposing the construction of the dam and are expected to vote in favour of the resolution.
However, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) may boycott the session and avoid participation in the voting on the anti-Kalabagh dam resolution, party sources said.
“If the government tables a simple anti-Kalabagh resolution without involving the court’s judgment then we might not boycott the session and not go against the resolution. But if the government intends to go ahead with the move to gain political points on the Kalabagh issue and criticise the judiciary, we will strongly oppose the resolution,” a PML-N MPA told Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity.
He added that the construction of Kalabagh Dam was essential for the country, but they did not want to give ANP a chance to gain political mileage over this issue. The PML-N has 10 members in the assembly after induction of Fazlullah, Rashid Khan and Sanaullah Khan Lodhi of the PML-Q.
Although PPP’s Anwar Saifullah used to support the dam’s construction in the past before being elected as the party’s provincial president, he will back coalition partner ANP over the issue. Sources in the JUI-F also confirmed that the party would support the resolution.
JUI-F spokesperson Jalil Jan confirmed that the party would hold a meeting on Monday at the provincial secretariat where an official stance would be decided. “The party will in all probability support the government’s resolution regarding the Kalabagh Dam, however, our party is going to hold a majlis-e-shoora on Monday (today), where the issue would be discussed in detail.” The JUI-F has 17 seats in the provincial assembly after Atteequr Rehman and Munawar Khan were inducted when they switched their loyalties from the QWA and PML-N, respectively.
Pervez Khattak, who joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) will not attend the session, however, he voiced his opposition over the construction of the reservoir.
Similarly, Israrullah Ghandapur, who was elected on a QWA ticket and later developed differences with the party, also said he would favour the resolution.
