03 August 2004	Tuesday	16 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

HYDERABAD, Aug 2: The Awami Tehrik has criticized the proposed construction of Kalabagh and other dams on the River Indus despite strong opposition from people of Sindh.

At a meeting held here on Sunday, the party's general council called upon the government to shelve the dam projects.

It noted that Sindh was not being given its due share in the National Finance Commission award, which, he demanded, should be announced on the basis of revenue generation instead of population.

Condemning the construction of what it called illegal and unconstitutional greater Thal canal, the council said work on the canal should be stopped forthwith as it would undermine the unity of the country.

The meeting rejected parliamentary and technical committees on the water issue, saying the committees did not enjoy mandate of people and, therefore, their decisions would not be accepted by the people of Sindh.

It drew attention of the government towards the predicament of people affected by floods, rains and breaches in the Left Bank Outfall Drain last year and demanded that a Rs10 billion package should be announced for rehabilitation of the affected families.

The party said Badin should be given royalty for oil and gas discovered in the district. It opposed the award of fishing contracts to Rangers in the district and demanded their cancellation.

The meeting expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in upper Sindh and blamed the government for it. It said competent and honest DPOs should be appointed there to control the situation.

It also condemned the alleged ongoing operation by police and Rangers against Sindhi Hari Tehrik activists in Nagarparkar and demanded that the operation should be stopped and a judicial inquiry be ordered into the matter.

About political situation in the country, the AT general council observed that the country was in the grip of unprecedented crisis. Under the circumstances, it demanded, a new constituent assembly, should be elected to draft a new constitution.

It said the Senate should be made independent for legislation of laws. The meeting condemned the imperialism of the United States of America.