Thal Canal - death warrant

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Muttahida seminar on 'Thal Canal - death warrant'
Govt urged to halt project,
ensure equal distribution of water

KARACHI: Experts, intellectuals and politicians have unanimously rejected the Greater Thal Canal project and terming it as a conspiracy against Sindh and Pakistan, demanded of the regime to stop the project. Expressing concern they also demanded to leave this project for the elected govt and advised the rulers to implement the water accords and ensure equal distribution of water among the provinces.

Theses demands were made at a seminar organised by Muttahida Qaumi Movement titled. The title of the seminar was 'Thal Canal - death warrant' (Thal Canal - Nuskha-e-Maut) on Monday. The participants and speakers endorsed the resolution of the seminar raising their hands.

The JI leader Prof Ghafoor Ahmad; Muttahida leaders Dr Farooq Sattar, Nasreen Jalil, Shoaib Bukhari; the SDA leaders Imtiaz Shaikh, Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, Arbab Rahim; the PTI leaders Dr Arif Alvi and Mir Haider Talpur, Pakistan Saraeki Party leader Taj Muhammad Langah; Millat Party leader Javed Jabbar; the PML-N leader Mamnoon Husain; the SNF leader Gul Muhammad Jakhrani; the ANP leader Qamoos Gul Khatak; the PPP (SB) leader Nazir Madi, the JSQM leader M Rahemo; experts Zahid Husain Bhargari and Tahir Javed Siddiqi, Ali Ahmad Brohi and M B Naqvi spoke on the occasion.

Initiating the debate Dr Farooq Sattar said the situation demanded election of a constituent assembly to prepare new constitution in the spirit of 1940 Resolution. Expressing concern over the prevailing situation of the country, Farooq Sattar said it was the same as in 1971 when Pakistan was divided. He said a new constitution was the need of the hour for the survival of the country.

Highlighting water crisis, the Muttahida leader pointed out that sense of deprivation was prevailing in Sindh and Balochistan. He held that strong centre was not a solution and the rulers should chose, whether they wanted strong centre or strong Pakistan. The construction of Thal Canal project exposed the thinking of Punjab establishment against small provinces, he pointed out and added the project would not be in the interest of Saraeki areas. He urged the people of Saraeki belt to join hands with the people of Sindh for their rights. Rejecting the impression that Sindh was getting water from the share of the Saraeki people, he declared that nobody could blame Sindh if Punjab did not release the share of water to Saraeki area.

He said the federal government had no funds for Mass Transit project for Karachi but they allocated funds for Thal Canal project while the Council of Common Interests (CCI) had not approved it. Muttahida leader Nasreen Jalil said no project could be constructed at Sindh River without the consent of the people of Sindh. "Why can't Thal Canal project be abolished if Kala Bagh Dam was shelved?" she asked.

Criticising the Thal project, the JI leader Prof Ghafoor Ahmad said it was a conspiracy not only against the Sindh but also against the country. He said the country could not develop and prosperous if decisions were taken only for the benefit of some people. The Millat Party leader Javed Jabbar said Sindh was facing acute water crisis as compared to other provinces but was being given step-motherly treatment. He held that the problems could be solved through talks.

Dr. Farooq Sattar

Mr. Shoaib Bukhari

Mrs. Nasreen Jalil

Mr. Ali Ahmed Brohi

The SDA leader Imtiaz Shaikh said water crisis situation had now reached to an alarming stage. He said Sindh was not against the interests of Pujnab and Saraeki people but there could be no compromise on the interests of Sindh. He suggested convening of an all parties' conference on the issue to make suggestions to resolve water problem. He said leaders from Sindh should visit Punjab and inform them about the facts. Imtiaz said Altaf Husain could play important role to resolve the issue. He appealed to the Muttahida chief to launch joint struggle to resolve problems of Sindh and assured that the SDA would support him in this campaign.

The PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi suggested satellite-monitoring system for distribution of water from all the 18 barrages to remove misunderstandings between the provinces. The leader of Pakistan Saraeki Party Taj Muhammad Langah was the only speaker who supported the Thal Canal project and proposed that Sindh and Saraeki people should sit and accept the ground realities and rights of Saraeki people. He alleged that Punjab released the quota of Saraeki area to Sindh. He claimed that four districts of Saraeki areas would be developed through Thal Canal water and Sindh would not be effected by the project.

The PML-N leader Mamnoon Husain alleged that the rulers were deliberately creating disputes just to prolong their rule. The SNF leader Gul Muhammad Jakhrani, the SDA leaders Arbab Rahim and Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, Qamoos Gul Khatak, Nazir Madi, Zahid Husain Bhargari and M B Naqvi also opposed the project. Well-known intellectual of Sindh Ali Ahmad Brohi asked as to why the intellectuals from Punjab were not taking notice that people of Sindh were opposing and were against the project.

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KARACHI, July 1: Major political parties at a seminar on Monday urged the government to immediately stop construction of the Greater Thal Canal as it was against the interests of Sindh.

A majority of speakers were of the view that the project had been initiated without reaching a consensus "with the sole objective of benefiting the privileged few in one province".

Mr. Arbab Rahim

Prof. Ghafoor Ahmed

Mr. G M Jatoi

Mr Ghulam M Jhakrani

Mr. Imtiaz Sheikh

They demanded that the plan be deferred till the installation of an elected government in the country which would be competent enough to decide such a controversial matter.

The seminar on "Water is life, Thal canal-death knell" was organized by the coordination committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement here at a local hotel. About two dozen speakers from various political parties, including Jamaat-Islami, Awami National Party, Sindh National Front, PPP (SB), PML (N), PTI, National Alliance, Millat Party and Sindh Democratic Alliance, spoke on the occasion.

Some of the speakers expressed the apprehension that water crisis in the province existed only due to injustices committed in the past. According to them, Punjab was not ready to accept the water accord in its original form. The stance taken by Punjab on the issue of water distribution, would create further hatred between provinces, they noted.

Some of the speakers also referred to the recently announced constitutional packages and termed it against democracy. It was viewed that instead of ensuring complete provincial autonomy, country was being pushed towards a dictatorial regime where provinces would be ruled as one unit.

Mr. Javeed Jabbar

Mr. Javeed T Siddiqui

Mr. Khamosh G Khatak

Mr. Mamoon Hussain

Mr. M B Naqvi

The deputy chief of the Jamat-i-Islami, Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, urged the government to abandon the canal project as it would annoy small provinces, and it was never approved by the CCI and no separate allocations had been made by the government.

The government should not try to get the project implemented by hook or crook, he said, adding "raising voice against the canal project is not only in the interest of Sindh but in the interest of Pakistan as well".

He said a weak government without the backing of the masses was not capable of resolving disputes of provinces. Constant ignorance of problems of provinces would have a negative effect on the federation and a strong political government can solve such problems, he said.

Prof Ghafoor referred to a religious decree on water distribution, according to which tail-enders were the most deserving, but contrary to this they are provided less than their needs.

He demanded that the ongoing work on Thal Canal be stopped immediately and it be initiated with the consultation of representatives of all provinces.

Mr. Mohs Rahimo

Mr. Nazir Marri

Mr. Zahid Hussain

Dr Farooq Sattar, deputy convener of Muttahida coordination committee, referred to a prediction about water riots in the new millennium, and said the existing water situation required a serious handling of the issue by the government.

He slammed the government for initiating the canal project without proper planning and declared it a sheer wastage of time and money.

He warned the government to avoid all such measures which could result in a sense of deprivation among the people of Sindh.

He said he did not see a wisdom in building the Thal canal by the government or raising other sensitive issues, including the constitutional amendments, particularly at a time when the country was faced with serious external threats.

He emphasized the need for launching a joint struggle to keep the government away from initiating such disputed projects in future.

He said a strong federation is not a solution to the problems. "We must decide now whether we want strong Pakistan or strong a federation".

He demanded bringing necessary changes in the constitution to run the future administrative setup of the country.

Ali Ahmed Brohi said Punjab couldn't be allowed to deprive the people of their right to live. He said that the seminar represented the entire population of Sindh. Referring to the crisis of water in the province for the last 10 years, he said that Punjab should understand the problem and not lay an emphasis on the Thal project.

Dr Arif Alvi of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf said that canal should not be constructed without reaching a consensus. He said sensitive issues be resolved with consensus, while measures be taken for satellite monitoring of water flow through different barrages to restore the confidence of small provinces.

Javed Tahir Siddiqui, a technocrat, said it was being said that canal project was a flood canal, but in view of the past practices and observations made in the case of other dams, it was difficult to believe in the government.

Qamoos Gul Khattak of ANP Sindh said that the canal issue was not only the issue of Sindh but also that of Pakistan. All the four province be allowed to have the right on the resources of the country, he said, adding his party condemned the project and was ready to extend all support to Muttahida on the issue.

Taj Muhammad Langah, a former PPP leader and leader of Pakistan Saraiki Party, said no major decisions pertaining to water projects were taken by taking people into confidence or placing them before any parliament of the country in the past and that was why there had been great resentments in people, including those belonging to the Saraiki belt.

Haji Nazir Maddi of Shaheed Bhutto group termed the canal project anti-Sindh and opposed it. He mentioned that the project was an example of injustices being committed in the case of Sindh.

Imtiaz Shaikh of SDA said that canal issue was an issue of life and death for the people of Sindh. Thal canal had been mentioned nowhere in the 1991 water accord, he said, suggesting that a broad-based commission or all party conference could also be convened on the subject of canal.

Former governor of Sindh and general secretary of PML(N) Sindh, Mamnoon Hussain, said a technical committee be formed to study the project. He said water was not necessary only for the agriculture purposes but it was also needed to run the industries in Karachi.

He viewed that present government was unnecessarily raising controversial issues. The appropriate time to discuss or consider projects, like Thal canal, could be only when we have enough water, he mentioned.

Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi of National Alliance said that water was an issue of life or death not only for rural people but also for those of urban areas. "We would not allow anybody to turn this land into a barren land," he said.

Senior Vice President of Millat Party, Javed Jabbar, said that distribution of natural resources had always been an issue in the world, including Pakistan and India. He said that the water crisis in Sindh was a dominant issue, but any further creation of a situation of distrust could prove harmful for the development of the country.

Deputy Convener of Muttahida coordination committee, Nasreen Jalil said that Thal canal project was a conspiracy against Sindh. She recalled that the Nepra had also opposed the project in 1975 in its recommendations to federal government.

Earlier opening the floor for speakers, Shoaib Bukhari said that the Jeay Sindh was practically synonym for Jeay Pakistan, but unfortunately attempts were being made to eliminate Sindh. He said that Thal canal project was a part of that great conspiracy being hatched against Sindh.

At the end of the two-session seminar, Shoaib Bokhari said that the participants had reached a consensus that the canal project would hit hard the vital interests of Sindh, the lower riparian.

He presented the resolutions of the day as following: "This house is of the opinion that the Greater Thal canal Project is a conspiracy against Sindh and considers it to be a grave threat to the solidarity and integrity of federation of Pakistan. "The house resolves that greater Thal canal project be abandoned forthwith".

Others who spoke included Arbab Rahim of SDA, Gul Muhammad Jakhrani of SNF, Hyder Mir Hyder Talpur of PTI Sindh, deputy secretary general of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz Mohammad Rahimo, M. B Naqvi and Zahid Hussain Bhargari.