HYDERABAD, Jan 24: The Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party has reiterated that the River Indus is the exclusive property of Sindh and the people of the province will not accept construction of any other dam on it.

The central committee of the party which met here on Monday alleged that construction of dams and taking out canals from the Indus was a conspiracy of Punjab to control the river. It resolved to foil this conspiracy.

The meeting demanded that water projects on the Indus and the greater Thal canal should be scrapped forever.

It condemned the army operation in Balochistan and accused the government of creating 1971-like situation in the country. It said that innocent people, including women and children, were being killed in Balochistan.

It made it clear that the Balochistan issue could be resolved only through a dialogue and not through use of force. It demanded withdrawal of forces from Balochistan.

Opposing the NFC award on the basis of population, the meeting alleged that President Gen Pervez Musharraf was punishing the people of Sindh for launching a protest movement against the Kalabagh dam.

It believed that the NFC award would benefit Punjab, adding that Sindh would suffer huge economic losses.

It pointed out that more than 70 per cent of revenue to the federation was provided by Sindh. The NFC award announced by Gen Musharraf would create a sense of deprivation among the smaller provinces and hatred against Punjab, it feared.

The meeting demanded that the NFC formula should be reviewed and it should be based on revenue generation and poverty.

Expressing concern over opening of the Khokhrapar route despite opposition from a majority of the people of Sindh, it expressed the apprehension that lands in Khokhrapar would be occupied by outsiders. It feared that due to the influx of people from India, the indigenous population would be converted into a minority.

The central committee also reviewed arrangements for the Sindh Qaumi Ittehad rally against water projects and the Balochistan operation, scheduled to be held in Larkana on Jan 28, and constituted various committees for the purpose.

Dr Qadir Magsi presided over the meeting.

HESCO: In the ongoing drive against power thieves Hesco vigilant teams disconnected power supply of 200 consumers.

According to a spokesman for Hesco, a vigilant team led by SDO Qasimabad sub-division, Imran Shaikh raided Jatoi Goth, Khosa Goth, Kutchi Abadi and Gulshan-i-Mehran in Memon Society and detected 200 illegal kunda connections, which were immediately disconnected.