The ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) plans to table another resolution against the creation of the so called “anti-Sindh” and “anti-Pakistan” Kalabagh Dam (KBD) in the Sindh legislature.
The PPP statement came in reaction to the Lahore High Court’s verdict for creation of the controversial water reservoir that had already been opposed by three provincial assemblies except Punjab.
The new resolution would be tabled in the PPP-dominated 168-member provincial legislature on December 6th.
“We would table again, the resolution against Kalabagh Dam project on December 6th in the Sindh assembly session because this project is anti-Pakistani as well as anti-Sindh,” said PPP Central Deputy Secretary Information and Provincial Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon on Friday.
The provincial minister said the PML-N and Shahbaz Sharif’s statements regarding the construction of KBD were indicative of the fact that the party did not believe in the integrity and stability of the federation.
Memon said Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkwa had already passed separate resolutions against the building of the disputed dam. He expressed apprehension over the fact that weightage was not given to the consensus of three provinces in this regard.
“Pakistan Peoples Party has propagated provincial autonomy to strengthen the country. Provincial strength ultimately leads to a stable and durable federation,” the minister said.
The Sindh assembly session, which was scheduled to be held on November 30 (Friday), was pre-adjourned by Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza until December 6 owing to the PML (F)-led call for a province-wide strike and protest in the assembly. President Asif Ali Zardari was also due to address the session on December 3rd which sources said has been postponed in lieu of recent developments.
Kalabagh dam ruling an attack on federation: ANP
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Afrasiab Khattak on Friday said the Lahore High Court (LHC) ruling for the construction of the Kalabagh dam was similar to an attack on the federation. Speaking to media personnel, the ANP leader said the LHC ruling on a set of petitions seeking to build the dam had “the tone of Takht-i-Lahore”. He said three units of the federation had rejected the idea of constructing the much politicised dam. On the occasion, ANP spokesman Zahid Khan said digging the matter would not deliver any results, adding that ANP would soon announce its strategy on the issue.
