Palejo criticises water policy

By Ahmed Raza

HYDERABAD: Sindhi nationalist politician and Chief of Awami Tehreek, Rasool Bux Palejo, on Thursday demanded trial for General Musharraf and Water and Power development Authority (WAPDA) General Zulfikar. He said in a news conference “General Musharraf and General Zulfikar are the biggest terrorists that are committing terrorism on the river waters by unlawfully and unconstitutionally building the Greater Thal Canal and threaten to construct new dams on the Indus River. He termed the present regime as a criminal gang that has turned Pakistan into a criminal state through their criminal politics. Mr Palejo said all previous water accords were passed without Sindh’s representation and Sindh was not bound by them.

Mr Palejo the need for settling water disputes and also said the present government of Sindh is a military puppet government and does not truly represent the people. He maintained that General Musharraf’s government was playing a very dangerous game with the country for minor gains and sustaining power.

“In his first speech broadcasted through TV and radio on October 14, 1999 justifying his takeover, General Musharraf had presented a 7-point program before the people of Pakistan. Among these seven points he had emphasized provincial autonomy with special mention of discrimination and disadvantages faced by Sindh. But after four years, one can see the enormous harm he has caused to Sindh and thereby in fact to Pakistan,” he said.

Mr Palejo said General Musharraf has instigated the plunder of Sindh’s water share of the Indus River thereby making his four-year self-imposed rule the greatest economic and social disaster for Sindh. By abusing his highly controversial powers, Musharraf has facilitated the construction of an illegal, unconstitutional and immoral Greater Thal Canal to irrigate 1.5 million acres of Thal desert that would be gifted to retired and serving army high officials at the cost of fertile lands in Sindh, Palejo added.

The issue of Kalabagh Dam was raised to divert the attention of the people of Sindh, because they resisted the construction of the Greater Thal Canal, Mr Palejo said.

Home | National