January 9, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 8, 1426

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RAWALPINDI, Jan 8: Pakistan Muslim League Vice-President Syed Kabir Ali Wasti on Sunday asked the PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to convene a joint meeting of the party’s central working committee (CWC) and parliamentary party to review the situation in Balochistan.

“After statements of the Indian government and federal ministers, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, as well as MQM leader Altaf Hussain, the convening of a joint meeting and taking a clear stance on the issue has become necessary,” he said.

He said reports of the parliamentary bodies on Balochistan headed by Shujaat Hussain and Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed should also be presented in the meeting.

“Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Mohammad Yousuf and other Muslim League leaders from the province should be invited to attend the meeting,” he added.

Mr Wasti said corps commander Quetta and the directors- general of ISI, MI and IB should also brief the joint meeting of the parliamentary party and the CWC of the PML on the Balochistan situation.

He asked the PML secretary general to ensure such a briefing to the PML members.

Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: Apprehensions of anti-Kalabagh Dam lobby are based on hearsay and not substantiated by facts, Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar said.

In a statement issued here, Mr Zafar advocated the construction of Kalabagh Dam, saying that the country needs to construct new dams immediately to fulfil its agricultural and electricity needs. Opponents of Kalabagh Dam, he said, had failed to come up with concrete alternative proposals to meet the country’s water needs.

Mr Zafar said shortage of irrigation water was being felt in the country because of insufficient control over flood waters of the rivers.