LAHORE, Oct 14 Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed on Wednesday reiterated on floor of the Punjab Assembly that there would not be any compromise on the water share of the province under Indus River System Authority (Irsa).
He was responding to a privilege motion tabled by PML-Q's MPA Mohsin Leghari who had sought resignation of the senior minister for misguiding the house while requesting the chair to refer the motion to the privilege committee. Leghari said that he had attached all the documentary proof with the motion, including the statement issued by Sindh information minister Shazia Marri. He said that the share was cut during the Irsa meeting not attended by any representative of the Punjab.
Dismissing the assertion of Leghari, Riaz said that Punjab water share was never reduced to compensate Sindh. An Irsa member from Punjab brought into his notice that an authority meeting, to be presided over by its outgoing chairman, was likely to cut Punjab's water share.
“I immediately wrote a letter to the prime minister, requesting him to bar the outgoing Irsa chairman from taking any such decision. I also requested Prime Minister Gilani that the new chairman should be directed to seek prior approval of the prime minister while taking any such decision. The PPP is a symbol of the federation and give equal importance to all the four federation units. I will defend the rights of Punjab at all costs. I reiterate my stance that whenever I failed to get even one cusec less than the share decided according to Irsa formula, I would resign. It is mandatory on all of us to defend the rights of our province, irrespective of our political affiliations,” said Riaz.
Earlier, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah informed the house that owing to reduced water level in Tarbela, share of all provinces was adjusted accordingly. Provinces continued to get their due share according to available water in rivers under the Irsa formula. Punjab was getting its due water share, he added.
Rumpus prevailed in the house following exchange of allegations between Riaz and Leghari. However, the speaker reserved ruling on the motion.
