October 7, 2003	Tuesday	Sha’aban 10, 1424

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LARKANA, OCT 6: Federal Industries Minister Liaquat Jatoi has volunteered to lead a pro-Kalabagh dam campaign in Sindh to bypass the prime minister who has failed to muster support for the disputed project in the province.

This was stated by the leader of opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, while talking to this correspondent here on Monday after attending a Larkana People’s Party Parliamentarian meeting.

The Sindh PPP chief said that history was repeating itself as it was Mr Jatoi who had launched a campaign against Jam Sadiq.

He opined: “President Gen Parvez Musharraf had perhaps threatened Mr Jatoi to lead the campaign or face 32 references pending against him.”

He said that the public money would be utilized in the campaign as had been done in the referendum.

When asked whether powers that be were promoting Imtiaz Shaikh to replace Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar, Mr Khuhro replied that he was unaware of such a plan but hastily added that the rulers had already promoted “corrupt elements” and imposed them on the nation.

Referring to the PPP deserters — Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Faisal Saleh Hayat and others — he said that they had been involved in corruption and the names of some ministers were on the exit control list.

Commenting on the move to unite different pro-government factions of the PPP, Mr Khuhro sarcastically said: “We are not afraid of the expected formation of Pervez People’s Party because it will not erode the popularity of the original PPP and die its own death.”

He said that the move and the Pakistan Muslim League unification indicated that the rulers were preparing for general elections.

Earlier speaking at the PPP meeting, Mr Khuhro said that the struggle for supremacy of parliamentary democracy would continue.

He urged the party workers to remain in touch with the people and keep them abreast about the party policies.

The meeting through a resolution condemned the murder of a Shikarpur journalist, Amir Bakhsh Brohi, and called for the early arrest of his killers.

PROCESSION: A big procession was taken out in Naudero on Monday under the flag of Asif Zardari Release Committee, demanding that the PPP leader should be released.