NAWABSHAH, Jan 29: Former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has urged the federal and the Sindh government to hand over the charge of canals of Guddu and Sukkur barrages to Balochistan from where water is being supplied to the province.

Talking to newsmen at the Nawabshah Press Club on Sunday evening, he said that Balochistan was also a part of the country and the federation, like the other provinces, but it was not getting its due share of water. Demanding implementation of the water accord of 1991, Mr Jamali said water was available in sufficient quantity which needed a proper organization and management.

He said that reservoirs were necessary for the country and he had been saying it for 20 years.

He said that he had resigned from the ministry of water and power during the Junejo government when the then prime minister wanted to change his portfolio. He said that Mr Junejo had closed the Chashma-Jehlum link canal for three months to divert the flow of water to Sindh.

He said that he had suggested at a meeting of the PML where Prime Minister Shaukat

Aziz was also present that a parliamentary committee should visit Balochistan to assess the situation and also allow media men to visit the area but nothing had been done so far. Answering a question, Mr Jamali said that army was a disciplined force and never sought guidance from others before stepping into power corridor. He said that democratic institutions would be strengthened if one civilian government transferred powers to the other.

About the NFC award, he said that he had presented a formula of giving 48 per cent share to each province when he was prime minister. He regretted that Sindh at that time rejected the proposal and now the provinces were getting a share of 45.33 per cent. He said that every country keeps its economic interest on top of the priorities and he signed the Iran gas pipeline agreement for the economic interests of Pakistan. Answering another question, he said that Baloch sardars were educated and well qualified and the problem should be solved through dialogue. Earlier, speaking at a gathering of Jamali community at the residence of Khan Mohammad Jamali near Bandhi town, he said that he was part of the Muslim League of which Mir Jafar Khan Jamali was a founder member.

He said that the people of Balochistan were demanding their rights and this was not a crime.

He urged them to get their girls educated like boys. He said that the government should develop a consensus before constructing any dam.