Kalabagh dam to destroy economy of Sindh: Qureshi
SHIKARPUR, Dec 18: Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz chairman Bashir Qureshi has said the Kalabagh dam is a death warrant for people of Sindh. It will destroy economy of the province and lead to water shortage. He was talking to journalists at the residence of Nisar Ahmad Panhwar, parliamentary secretary for housing and works and member of the MQM Rabita Committee, after condoling the death of his mother on Saturday night.
He said Sindh was rich in natural resources and people of the province mostly depended on agriculture.
He said people of Sindh were ready to render all kinds of sacrifices and fight against Kalabagh and what he called other anti-Sindh projects.
JACOBABAD: Mr Qureshi said at a press conference at the local press club on Sunday that Sindh would not allow construction of any dam on the Indus because it was a property of the province.
He said the Kalabagh dam was not in the interest of Sindh. He added that three provincial assemblies had rejected the project.
He appealed to people to observe a strike on Dec 20 against the dam.
He alleged that the government wanted to deprive people of Sindh of their livelihood by constructing the dam on the Indus.
Replying to a question, he said his party was opposed to use of force in Balochistan and would resist construction of cantonments in the province.
HYDERABAD: The PPP district executive committee at a meeting held on Sunday rejected the Kalabagh dam.
District party president MPA Zahid Bhurgari presided over the meeting which was attended by MNA Amir Ali Shah Jamote, Saleem Shah Bukhari, Fayaz Ali Shah, Amanullah Siyal, Aftab Khanzado and Usman Kennedy.
The PPP leaders termed the Kalabagh dam anti-Sindh.
They alleged that the government wanted to break Pakistan and warned that if the project was not shelved, the government would face an uprising in the province.
The meeting appealed to people to participate in the protest march in Karachi against the dam on Dec 22.
DADU: Activists of the Sindh People’s Youth Organization held a demonstration outside the press club on Sunday to protest against the Kalabagh dam.
They were led by Umer Panhwar and Zulfiqar Ali Khokhar.
They warned that they would not allow Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Jatoi in Dadu if he supported the dam. They asked assembly members and ministers to oppose the project, otherwise they would face social boycott in their constituencies.
Later, they observed a token hunger strike.
Social workers and activists of social organizations opposed the Kalabagh dam at a meeting organized by the Shaheed Comrade Nazeer Abbasi Yadgar Committee at the Talibul Maula High School on Sunday.
The meeting demanded to shelve the project because it would harm the country.
It demanded making Sindhi language a compulsory subject in intermediate.
The meeting demanded to stop privatization of public corporations and ensure jobs to people.
Speaking at the meeting, district Communist Party of Pakistan secretary Photo Birhamani said his party urged leftist parties to unite for a joint struggle for rights of people.
Hyderabad CPP Secretary Adam Akhund said rights of the common man should be protected.
NAWABSHAH: Activists of the Sindh National Party, led by Ayaz Jamali, held a protest demonstration at the Ghousia chowk on Sunday against the Kalabagh dam.
Activists of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, led by Sarang Unnar, also took out a protest procession against the project.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Unnar said the government should respect opinions of the smaller provinces.
MIRPURKHAS: Over 100 activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz staged a protest demonstration and sit-in on Sunday to protest against Kalabagh dam.
They took out a procession from Jarwari Shakh, carrying banners and placards and marched on main roads and reached railway station chowk.
Ali Hassan Chandio, president District Bar Association said that Kalabagh dam was a death warrant for Sindh.