18 December 2004	Saturday	05 Ziqa'ad 1425

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PESHAWAR, Dec 17: Awami National Party (ANP) leaders have said they will not hold negotiations with President Gen Pervez Musharraf or any representative of the federal government on the issue of building a large dam at Kalabagh.

"Negotiations over the dam issue are out of question even with the president as the ANP will not change its stance," the party's provincial chief Nasim Wali Khan said when contacted by Dawn at her Charsadda residence.

Asked about President Musharraf's statement that he would visit the NWFP and Sindh to mobilize public opinion in favour of large dams, she said the ANP would not accept the construction of Kalabagh dam "at any cost".

"Negotiations cannot be held with anybody because we have taken a principled stand over the issue and we will never change our mind," she said. ANP Vice-President Haji Mohammed Adeel and Additional General Secretary Afrasyab Khattak expressed similar views.

"Political people never close their doors for talks but it is a question of life and death for the people of the NWFP, therefore talks would not make ANP change its decision," said Afrasyab Khattak.

He said the ANP had a clear stand over the issue, which was in line with the anti-Kalabagh dam resolutions adopted by three of the four provincial assemblies. He said the party's opposition to the dam was based on technical reasons and not merely on political grounds.

"We have a genuine concern on the basis of which we will not allow the construction of Kalabagh dam," said Mr Khattak. Haji Adeel said talks over the issue would not lead anywhere as its supporters, including the president, were not ready to pay heed to the opponents' view.

He advised the federal government to initiate execution of the Bhasha dam project as it entailed no controversy and none of the provinces had reservations about its construction. The leaders said execution of the "controversial" Kalabagh dam project would amount to negation of democratic values and the federal parliamentary system.

"As three of the four provincial assemblies have rejected the construction of the Kalabagh dam by adopting unanimous resolutions more than once, any attempt to execute the project would violate values of democracy and the federal system," Mr Khattak said.

The ANP leaders said attempts to use force against Kalabagh dam's opponents would lead to confrontation and the party would never allow its construction as it was detrimental to the interests of the people of the NWFP.

The party is of the view that the construction of a large dam at Kalabagh would undermine fertility of soil and cause massive displacement in Nowshera, Swabi and Mardan districts. The party would not hesitate in launching agitation if the government went for executing the project," said Farid Toofan, provincial general secretary of the ANP.