09 January 2004	Friday	16 Ziqa'ad 1424

HYDERABAD, Jan 8: The Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party has demanded that the National Finance Commission award should be announced on the basis of income generated by each province and not on the population basis.

The STPP at its central committee meeting held here on Wednesday condemned the exploitation of resources of Sindh and the usurpation of political, economic and cultural rights of the province.

It called for an end to the exploitation of Sindh resources. The meeting demanded that the Kalabagh dam and the greater Thal canal should be abandoned as the Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP assemblies had rejected the projects.

It opposed the opening of the Khokhrapar route, claiming that it was a conspiracy to convert the indigenous population into a minority. The meeting said the Sindh government should ensure the teaching of Sindhi language as a compulsory subject at public and private sector educational institutions in accordance with a Sindh Assembly resolution and cancel the registration of institutions which did not implement the resolution.

It welcomed the Islamabad declaration and steps taken by the Saarc Conference to improve relations among its member countries and for peace in the region.

The STPP called for steps to reduce defence expenditure and eliminate nuclear weapons which, it said, would lead to prosperity and peace in the region.

It appointed a committee to muster support and motivate the people to attend the anti-Kalabagh dam and greater Thal canal rally, scheduled to be held in Karachi on Jan 27 under the aegis of the Anti-Greater Thal Canal Action Committee.

It also constituted committees for holding the congress of the party on Feb 6 and 7 and the Madar-i-Watan celebrations on March 21. Dr Qadir Magsi presided over the meeting.

JSMM: Jeay Sindh Mutahidda Mahaz chairman Shafi Mohammad Burfat, in a statement issued here on Wednesday, criticized Punjab for advocating construction of water projects.

He alleged that on the one hand the province had taken over the control of Sindh's natural resources and, on the other, it was withholding water supply to Sindh.

Mr Burfat said cantonments were being constructed in Balochistan. He said the people of Sindh and Balochistan should unite on one platform and launch a struggle for their rights.

SNP: The Sindh National Party has constituted mobile teams to facilitate the people of the province to get their names registered in voters' lists and for preparation of their Computerized National Identity Cards.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, SNP chairman Amir Bhambhro said it was necessary for the indigenous people to get their names registered in the lists.