June 5, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23,1423

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MULTAN, June 4: The Pakistan Seraiki Party will change the Indus river’s name to the river ‘Seraiko,’ if Sindhi leadership keeps on demanding more water share.

This was stated by PSP chief Taj Muhammad Langah at a press conference here on Tuesday.

He said the party respected the rights and views of the other nationalities in the federation but would never sacrifice its rights.

He claimed that a large part of the Indus river flowed through the Seraiki belt and, therefore, residents of this area had a right to use its water. The Seraiki would do demarcation of the river so that no one could demand a share more than its moiety.

Condemning a seminar on the Greater Thal Canal in Multan held on Sunday last, he alleged presence of a majority of Sindhi nationalists marred the objective of presentation of ‘principle stand’ by the PSP on the canal issue.

The PSP is the only major Seraiki nationalist party in the region which has been supporting the controversial greater Thal Canal. While the other Seraiki political parties are opposing the project, claiming only the bureaucrats of Punjab would be the beneficiaries of the project as 0.5m acres have already been allotted to them.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Oppressed Nations’ Movement (PONM), Seraikistan unit, Secretary-General Sardar Ghulam Rasool Gurmani has cancelled the membership of PSP from the PONM on the direction of its Seraikistan unit Chairman Hameed Asghar Shaheen.

A press release issued by Sardar Gurmani alleged the PSP supported referendum against the policy of PONM, it had been supporting the controversial greater Thal Canal, its chairman had damaged the cause of PONM and Seraiki people under the influence of Punjabi establishment.

The official also criticized what he claimed PSP chief’s conspiracy to turn Seraikis relations with other oppressed nationalities sour.

He alleged Mr Langah was working on the agenda of someone else. Copy of the PSP removal has also been sent to the PONM central Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai.