HYDERABAD, Dec 14: The Anti-Greater Thal Canal Action Committee has decided to invite the Awami National Party and the National Party to join the committee.

An action committee meeting, held here on Friday and presided over by its convener, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, also decided to visit the site of the Thal canal to verify reports that funds for the project construction had been frozen.

Briefing journalists on Saturday at the Prince Town residence of Rasool Bux Palijo about the committee meeting proceedings, Mr Khuhro said a protest march would be held in Karachi on January 27.

Awami Tehrik chairman Rasool Bux Palijo, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi and other leaders were also present at the press briefing.

Mr Khuhro said with a view to increasing pressure on the government, it had been decided to enlarge the scope of the protest by inviting the ANP and Abdul Hayee Baloch’s National Party to join the committee.

He said the protest movement would also be extended to the NWFP, Balochistan and Punjab.

Criticizing constitution of the water committee by the National Assembly speaker, the Sindh People’s Party Parliamentarians president said the parliamentary committee was illegal and the speaker had no authority to nominate any Senator as its member.

He said such committees could only be constituted by the Council of Common Interests.

Mr Khuhro said the Sindh government should resign as it had failed to get the Sindh Assembly resolution against the Thal canal implemented.

CONVENER RE-ELECTED: The action committee re-elected Mr Khuhro for the third time as its convener.