May 25, 2002	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 12,1423

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ISLAMABAD, May 24: Chairman Sindh National Front Mumtaz Bhutto has called upon the government to give up disputed projects like Greater Thal Canal, and the controversial plan of local government to achieve national unity and cohesion at this crucial juncture.

In a statement issued here on Friday, the nationalist leader said that in a situation when dark clouds of war were hovering on the country’s horizon it was imperative for the government to forge absolute unity and cohesion among the people of the four provinces.

“But calling few politicians and showing them on the television will not make any change in the situation,” he said.

Mumtaz Bhutto said that situation on ground was quite contrary to what was being projected on television. “In fact, at present there is no unity among the people,” he added. People of Sindh were crying for a single drop of water and on the other hand speedy construction of a new canal was going on in Punjab, which would further enhance the scarcity of water in the province, he said.

Moreover, the provinces were not satisfied with the distribution of powers between the provinces and the centre and demands were being made to implement the promise on which Pakistan had been created, he added.

Commenting on the devolution plan and formation of district governments, he said it had undermined the provincial autonomy and created a situation of ‘one unit’ while widening the gulf between the centre and the provinces.

“Under such circumstances how can there be an optimism that since the Indian armed forces have gathered on the borders with Pakistan the people would forget their miseries and problems and unite together?” he wondered.

Mr Bhutto exhorted that the government must react to the requirements of the critical situation and stop the construction of Thal canal and the matter of its construction or otherwise should be left to the elected government.

He demanded that the distribution of financial resources should be done in accordance with the contributions being made by the provinces.