SUKKUR, Sept 4: Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar has said that an investigation has been initiated into the recent killing of eight people in Karachi to determine the reason behind the regretful incident.

He asserted that such conspiracies were part of a destabilization bid carried out by vested interests against the government.

Addressing a news conference at the Sukkur airport on Thursday, he said that President General Pervaiz Musharraf had not said that the Kalabagh dam would be built but that if the need to build the dam was felt, he would take the provinces in confidence for evolving a consensus on the issue.

The chief minister said that he agreed in principle that dams should be built to meet the ever-growing water shortage. He emphasized that Sindh was facing a acute water shortage and if there had been no rains recently then a serious crisis would have surfaced.

He stressed that he would support those dams which would benefit the people of Sindh. The Kalabagh project was also intended to overcome the water shortage in the province, he added.

Replying to a question about the views on Kalabagh Dam of other coalition partners in the Sindh government, Mr Mahar said that they were also supporting him on the issue.

Referring to the recent anti-Kalabagh Dam rallies, he said that the opposition had no programme for the welfare of the people and was simply fanning their sentiments.

He said the rain-affected people of upper Sindh were provided maximum relief and urged those trying to instigate the sentiments of the people to refrain from such dirty tricks.

He said the province had been put on the track of progress and prosperity, and investors were now taking keen interest in Sindh.

In response to a question about transfers and postings in the Sindh police department, he said it was the sole discretion of the provincial government.

Earlier, Mr Mahar, addressing a public meeting in Pano Akil, announced the supply of gas to five villages of the area, construction of a underpass, provision of a bus for the degree college and upgrading of the Sultanpur High School to higher secondary level.