SUKKUR, March 29: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar has said activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz will be dealt with an iron hand if they took out protest processions and blocked roads between Sindh and Punjab on March 30.
Talking to journalists after laying the foundation stone of the office of the Regional Police Officer, Sukkur, and a residential block at the old Sindh Reserve Police office here on Monday, he said those who indulged in such activities would be arrested.
He said talks could be held with the JSQM on the issue of construction of Kalabagh dam and Thal canal projects if it stopped its protests which he said were against the interests of the country, particularly of Sindh.
In reply to a question, the chief minister claimed that the law and order situation was much better in his tenure when compared to previous governments. Mr Mahar said his government was trying to bring all tribes to the dialogue table so that their differences could be resolved.
Appreciating police performance, he said it had been decided in principal to increase salaries and other fringe benefits of police. Answering another question, the chief minister ruled out any midterm elections. However, he added, nothing was impossible in a democratic process.
When asked about shortage of wheat in Sindh, he claimed that there was no wheat shortage in the province. He said the Sindh government had fixed the wheat procurement target of 600,000 tons for the current year.
Mr Mahar offered no comments when he was asked why the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which was a coalition party of the Sindh government, could not stop the leadership of the JSQM from staging protest rallies against the disputed water projects as it was also an ally of the JSQM.
He also declined to comment when a questioner said why was the Sindh government not pressuring the federal government for shelving the water projects as the Sindh Assembly had unanimously passed resolutions against the projects.
However, the chief minister said new water reservoirs were needed to meet the water shortage and planning for the same would continue. Earlier, Mr Mahar laid the foundation stone of the RPO office and a residential block. He was told that the project, which would cost Rs16.023 million, would be completed in 18 months.
