KARACHI, Feb 13: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has claimed that the National Security Council was essential for blocking the path of martial law in future and ensuring continuity of the democratic process.

Gen Musharraf, who was presiding over high-level meetings here on Friday, expressed satisfaction over the law and order in Sindh.

According to sources, President Musharraf rejected as 'baseless' reports about any negotiations with Ms Benazir Bhutto or change of guard in Sindh government. He also dispelled the impression that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was about to leave the coalition.

Speaking at two separate meetings of the Sindh coalition partners, Gen Musharraf again assured that Sindh would get all its due rights and share from the federal revenue, besides water from the river system.

He informed a meeting that before 2000, Punjab had 20 per cent share in the PSDP and Sindh less than 10 per cent. But now Sindh's share in the PSDP was more than that of Punjab.

With regard to Sindh's representation in the armed forces, he said that over 70,000 Sindhis were serving in the Pakistan Army. The officer cadre representation of the province was also improving.

Gen Musharraf said that by the end of this month Police Ordinance 2002 and the Sindh Local Government Ordinance would be deliberated upon and streamlined. A meeting would soon be held for this purpose, he said.

It was interesting to note that the president held separate meetings with the coalition partners in Sindh government. The first meeting was attended by MPAs belonging to the PML-Q, National Alliance and PPP-Patriot and Sindh Assembly speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah.

Federal ministers Ghous Bux Mahar, Liaqut Ali Jatoi and Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and some senators and MNAs were also present on the occasion. The second meeting was held with legislators belonging to the Muttahida, the major coalition partner in Sindh.

Although no reason was given for the separate meetings when issues concerning the province were on the agenda, informed sources maintained that it reflected some problems within the ruling coalition.

The sources said the president was not happy over the situation and the slow pace of implementation of the Karachi package he had announced last year. During the two meetings, problems being faced in the exercise of authority by local bodies and provincial governments were also discussed.

Gen Musharraf said that elections to the local bodies would be held next year and the local government ordinance would be suitably amended to remove conflict of interests due to overlapping of powers.

He said the local body system was essential for democratic process, but emphasised that "this in no way means to belittle the role of MPAs who also have a vital role to play in the democratic process", said the official sources.

In the context of the current acrimonious relationship between the provincial and the local governments, Gen Musharraf stressed the need of rationalising and harmonising work of MPAs and representatives of the local bodies.

He told the elected representatives that their role in development projects was as important as that of the city Nazim. Referring to complaints about mounting protests over shortage of water in Sindh for irrigation and other purposes, he assured that the province would get its due share of water, but called for its judicious use.

He also called for tackling the elements who were allegedly trying to fan hatred and misunderstanding among provinces on this issue. This was an apparent reference to those who were opposing the proposal to construct Kalabagh Dam and the Greater Thal Canal project.

Gen Musharraf said water issue was very important which must be addressed with all seriousness and asked if Kalabagh Dam or Greater Thal Canal were not constructed, what the alternative was to meet future requirements.

He also referred to various development projects undertaken in Sindh and said the Thar coal project had the potential of changing the quality of life of the people of Thar in two years.

The Right Bank Outfall Drain and lining of rivers and construction of Sehwan and other dams also came up for consideration. During its meeting with the president, the Muttahida delegation advocated that allocations under the NFC should be on the basis of revenue generation and not population.

The Muttahida also raised the issue of refusal to issue computerised NIC's to thousands of Biharis living in Orangi area.