KARACHI, Sept 3: Leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro on Wednesday alleged that by planning to place the technical and political committee’s report on water issue, including Greater Thal Canal and Kalabagh Dam in the National Assembly, the federal government has, in fact, conspired to circumvent Sindh Assembly’s opposition to the project.

Speaking at a news conference, Mr Khuhro accused the provincial government of evading a debate on adjournment motions against GTC under pressure from the government.

Flanked by MMA’s Maulana Omar Sadiq, he resented the senior minister’s opposition to the adjournment motion and said that Mr Ahmed’s statement on the floor of the assembly was not enough and convincing as seven months had elapsed since the provincial legislature adopted a unanimous resolution, but the government sat over it.

Referring to the announcement by Gen Pervez Musharraf about the formation of a technical committee, headed by A.N.G. Abbasi, he also recalled Syed Sardar Ahmed’s statement that this committee’s report will be submitted to the political committee and will be eventually placed before the National Assembly.

He said that first of all Mr Abbasi’s appointment and terms of reference of the technical committee have not been notified.

He was of the view that since the matter pertains to Sindh, report of the technical committee or any such committee should first come to Sindh Assembly for validation.

As the provincial assembly does not give its assent, construction of the project be stopped, he said.

He was of the view that the executive order had lost relevance after the assemblies adopted resolutions against such projects.

Nisar Khuhro warned against policies of confrontation and said that the government was fanning animosity and misunderstanding.

The purpose of deciding the matter in the National Assembly was aimed at defeating Sindh through massive numerical strength, he said, hoping that the representatives of other federating units would be conscious of that.