HYDERABAD, Jan 19: Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi has reiterated that the people of Sindh will not accept construction of any dam on the River Indus.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Thursday, he claimed that the Indus was the exclusive property of Sindh and no water project could be constructed on the river without consent of Sindhis. Party leaders Dr Hameed Memon, Nandlal Malhi and Hoat Khan Gadhi were also present.

Dr Magsi, who is also president of the Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement, said Wednesday’s rally in Hyderabad which was attended by tens of thousands of people had sent a clear message to the government that they would not accept any dam on the Indus.

He said that by announcing construction of the Bhasha dam first on the eve of the rally, President Gen Pervez Musharraf had tried to weaken the case of Sindh but the huge rally had rejected construction of all dams on the River Indus.

He claimed that even during the British regime in 1901, a proposal to build a barrage on the Sutlej River was rejected on the ground that it would harm lower riparian (Sindh).

Dr Magsi accused the establishment and Punjab of trying to take over control of Indus waters, saying government’s plan to build dams on all supporting rivers (tributaries) of the Indus was a step in that direction. He refused to accept the argument that enough water was available in the Indus to build five dams.

He claimed that statements of President Musharraf and his ministers even on the Bhasha dam were self-contradictory. He said that the president had recently said that it would take three years to prepare a feasibility report of the Bhasha dam but in his televised speech to the nation, he had said he would lay the foundation stone of the dam next month. He said his information minister Shaikh Rashid had announced only on Wednesday that a 300-metre tunnel of Bhasha dam had already been completed. He termed this deception and hypocrisy.

He claimed that the only objective of the Kalabagh dam, which according to Gen Musharraf would be completed by 2016 along with other dams, was to irrigate lands of army generals. However, he added, the dam would render Sindh lands barren.

He alleged that all decisions taken by generals while in power were wrong and detrimental to interests of the country. He claimed that Gen Ayoub Khan had given 33 MAF water to India, Gen Yahya had dismembered Pakistan, Gen Ziaul Haq had introduced heroin and Kalashnikov culture in the country and engineered ethnic riots and Gen Musharraf in the name of enlightened moderation had unleashed state terrorism in Balochistan and created disharmony among the provinces by raising the issue of dams.

Dr Magsi also criticized the World Bank for promising loans for dam projects, adding that it had no right to formulate policies for the country.

He opposed opening of the Khokhrapar route, saying it would lead to influx of people into Sindh.

Reverting to the Bhasha dam, he said the president had conceded that location of the dam was in the earthquake range. He alleged that Gen Musharraf was worried about two hotels, two parks and two schools of the Aga Khan Foundation which would be affected due to construction of the Skardu dam but he was prepared to let Sindh lands turn barren.

He also criticized the NFC award and the role of Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain.