RIGHTS OF SMALLER PROVINCES A PRE CONDITION FOR SOLIDARITY AND PROSPERITY OF PAKISTAN – ALTAF HUSSAIN

5 September 2001

MQM leader Mr. Altaf Hussain stated that the solidarity of Pakistan lies in the redressal of grievances of Sindh and other smaller provinces of Pakistan.  He was addressing a seminar of renowned intellectuals and technocrats of Sindh on the issue of Kala Bagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal organised by the MQM Co-ordination Committee in Karachi.  He pointed out that there are many technocrats is Sindh who are extremely knowledgeable about the problems of Sindh but the federal government does not consult them on the matters directly affecting the province.  It seems that knowledge has little value for those who command military power.  They continue to impose their ill-conceived decisions through brute force.  He asked the intellectuals and technocrats of Sindh province that their delegation should ask the federal government for a meeting with their delegates to discuss the water crisis in Sindh.

He also appealed to the establishment of Pakistan to pay attention to what these intellectuals and technocrats have to say; the survival of Pakistan depends on it.  He warned that if the fundamental rights are denied to the people of Sindh and they are continued to be treated as second-class citizens, they would be justified to approach the Untied Nation and demand the right of Self Determination.

Pakistan can only survive on the basis of acceptance of rights and tolerance of the people of smaller provinces.  There is no room for Punjabi colonisation of smaller provinces in the country, and it is not acceptable.  He said that on demanding their fundamental rights the people of Sindh and Balochistan are termed as traitors and Indian agents by the Punjabi establishment.  The establishment does not realise that the concept of pluralism and justice is an essential element for strong one Nation concept, where as denial of justice and ethnic particularism result in disintegration and alteration in geographical boundaries, like the debacle of East Pakistan in 1971.

Mr. Hussain asked the learned participants of the seminar to prepare a working paper on the feasibility of Kala Bagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal projects so we can study it and also forward it to the United Nations and other human rights organisations the world over.  Finally, he expressed his gratitude to the learned participants for their time and contribution to the seminar.

Kalabagh Dam, Thal Canal projects

termed conspiracy against Sindh

By our correspondent
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/

KARACHI: The technical experts, intellectuals, politicians, columnists and farmers have rejected the Kalabagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal project and termed these schemes as conspiracy of the establishment against the people of Sindh.

The experts of different fields demanded honest implementation of the water accord at a seminar on Wednesday held at Karachi Press Club to discuss the situation arising after the decision of regime to construct these projects under Vision 2025.

The seminar was organised by the Co-ordination Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement and former Sindh irrigation minister A N G Abbasi, columnist M B Naqvi, intellectual Ali Ahmad Brohi, Noor Ahmad Memon, Nafees Siddiqi, Abdul Majeed Nizamani and Tariq Aziz highlighted the details about these projects. The deputy convenor of Co-ordination Committee Aftab Shaikh chaired the seminar.

The participants through a resolution adopted in the seminar expressed reservations over the regime's Vision 2025 under which the government was planning to construct Kalabagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal projects. They demanded of the regime to release the details, facts and figures about proposed projects.

They warned the government to avoid constructing these projects and suggested improving the existing canal and watercourse system of the country. The experts alleged that the establishment and Indus River System Authority (IRSA) were responsible for water crisis in Sindh and that the authorities of these institutes had no interest in Sindh and they were trying to dry the River Indus.

They urged the regime to ensure Sindh's share of water according to the water accord. They said it was historical fact that before creation of Pakistan Sindh received proper water without any restrictions. But, the rulers had constructed dams on Indus River and took over the control on the water of Sindh.

The experts pointed out that requirement of Sindh need revise of water share of the province as the use of water has been double due to increased in the population while the province received 30 per cent less than the proposed allocated share from the water accord.

The experts and participants also expressed doubt about the role of the IRSA. Addressing the seminar on telephone from London, Muttahida chief, Altaf Hussain disclosed that Greater Thal Canal project was mentioned as 'Greater Punjab Canal' in the secret government document.

Altaf said the points raised by the experts about the Kalabagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal project proved that people of Sindh were aware of the conspiracy being hatched against them.

He said that establishment treated the Sindh like its colony and was trying to impose anti-Sindh decisions. He suggested that experts from Sindh should be invited in an open debate at Minar-e-Pakistan to discuss the issues and resolve their doubts.

Altaf urged the rulers to accommodate all small provinces in federal government policies, not to impose the majority decisions on them through armed forces if they wanted to unite the country.

He also asked the experts to prepare working and provide details to him about the Kalabagh Dam and Thal Canal project and promised that he would bring all these injustices to the notice of international human rights bodies. He further said if rulers want to save the country then they should talk to people of Sindh and treat them on equal basis.

Later, the participants adopted resolutions and demanded that conduct of IRSA should be scrutinised and its deliberate overlooking and violation of water accords censured; existing canal and watercourse system and agriculture stabilised on basis of available water resources; existing canals re-modelled and lined; further dams or canals are required till water availability is ensured; and new study conducted to examine the water problem afresh keeping in view the past agreements and requirements of the province. The seminar also demanded open discussion on television and opportunity to experts of each province before embarking upon any new scheme.

Kalabagh dam, Thar canal plan denounced
By Our Staff Reporter

http://www.dawn.com

KARACHI, Sept 5: Speakers at a seminar on Kalabagh dam and the greater Thar canal projects urged the government to take into consideration the water availability position in future before initiating any mega water project.

Demanding implementation of the Water Accord of 1991, the seminar rejected the proposed construction of the dam.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement's coordination committee had organized the seminar that lasted for about four hours. It was also addressed the by Muttahida chief, Altaf Hussain, from London.

Altaf Hussain lauded the efforts of the speakers for their threadbare deliberations based on researches, technical data and historical and geographical perspectives. He said that the government should listen to the intellectuals and experts from Sindh on the subject of water distribution and dams.

He said that the government should exercise tolerance, accept the existence of Sindh and redress the grievances of the Sindhi people, before it was too late. He said it was better that the people of Sindh, who believed in peace, logic and open debates on issues, should be taken seriously by the establishment which was under the influence of the Punjab and was trying to give the international community the impression that the people of Sindh and Balochistan, including the Urdu speaking people, were not loyal to Pakistan.

He stressed the need for another detailed meeting of Sindhi intellectuals and experts to prepare a working paper related to the Kalabagh dam and the greater Thar canal projects to dispatched to the UNO and other international bodies for peace and justice.

The seminar chaired by the deputy convener of the Muttahida's coordination committee passed the following resolutions:

1) This house demands honest implementation of water accords.

2) Rejects Vision 2025 and condemns the no-disclosure of its details, facts and figures relating thereto.

3) Demands that the conduct of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) be scrutinised and its deliberate overlooking and violation of water accords be censured.

4) Affirms that the existing canal system and agriculture be stabilised on the basis of available water courses and the existing canals be remodelled and lined.

5) It further demands that the existing water courses be immediately lined.

6) Asserts that no further dams or canals are required till water availability is ensured.

7) Demands that a study be conducted to examine the water problem afresh, keeping in view the past agreements and requirements of the provinces.

8) Discussions be held openly on television and opportunity be given to experts of each province before embarking upon any new scheme.

Earlier, a technocrat on water affairs, A G Abbasi that the requirement of the province had increased remarkably; before the inception of the country, Sindh was getting water unrestricted from the Indus River System but now the situation had changed; after the signing of the Indus River Treaty and the placement of the Water Accord 1991 Sindh was supposed to get 161 million acre ft, but in fact it was getting about 144 million acre ft.

The noted literary figure, Ali Ahmed Barohi, who recently joined the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, said that the problems of SIndh and Balochistan had been multiplied with the increase in population.

Noor AHmed Memon of the Sindh Forum said that the Indus-Taas treaty should be revived in order to save the province from any potential danger.

Nafees Siddiqui said that the an non-elected government should refrain from bulldozing the objections raised by on issues like water.

Abdul Majid Nizamani said that the water availability position had not gone beyond 140 MAF in the last 72 years in the country and there was no need of undertaking any mega project, instead efforts should be made to streamline the existing water system. Engineer Tariq Aziz of the Sindh Abadgar Association also spoke.

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