KARACHI: MQM to move resolution in NA against Thal canal
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, July 19: Muttahida Qaumi Movement has decided to move a resolution against the greater Thal canal project in the next session of the National Assembly and Senate and has sought support from the Pakistan People’s Party and religious parties.
This was spelt out by the MQM MNA Dr Farooq Sattar at a news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday. Deputy conveners of the MQM coordination committee, Nasreen Jaleel, and Shaikh Liaqut Hussain were also present at the conference.
Dr Sattar acknowledged that the people of Sindh were generally against the project and wanted its construction to be stopped.
Ms Jaleel disclosed that she had spoken to Prime Minister Jamali yesterday and she was informed that Sindh governor and chief minister would take up the issue with their Punjab counterparts.
To a question, Dr Sattar said the resolution adopted by the Sindh Assembly on the subject had been sent to the federal government but he did not disclose what was the feedback.
He appealed to all political and religious parties, including the PPPP and the MMA to support the resolution and work for its unanimous adoption to remove the growing alienation among the people of Sindh.
Dr Sattar, however, did not categorically stated whether other ruling coalition partners had assured him of their support.
When asked what would be the impact on Sindh and rest of the country if the proposed resolution was not adopted by the NA and the Senate, in which the MQM had 18 and six members respectively, Dr Sattar evaded a straightforward reply and said his party considered the GTC project a matter of national concern and was approaching it from that perspective.
When a scribe pointed out divergent views of the PML-Q on the subject and claimed that the MQM was doing politics by putting the onus of its success on PPPP and MMA support, Dr Sattar, claiming that his party was not doing politics on such a sensitive issue, hoped that others would also avoid playing politics on the issue.
Asked why the MQM representatives in the NA did not oppose allocation for the GTC and whether its members in the federal cabinet would register their opposition, he parried.
When asked whether the MQM would give a deadline to the government on the issue, he said the matter was sensitive and there was no need to take hasty decision.
