LARKANA, June 14: Sindh People’s Party Parliamentarians president Nisar Ahmad Khuhro has said the opposition will table a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar at a suitable time.

He was speaking at a press conference here on Saturday.

Calling him a puppet, Mr Khuhro criticized the chief minister for not taking a firm stand on issues of the province.

He alleged that the unrepresentative government of Gen Pervez Musharraf was diverting the flow of the River Indus by constructing the greater Thal canal. He claimed that the canal would only irrigate lands allotted to officers and generals.

The PPP leader said the people were protesting against construction of the Thal canal, which would have a regular intake of 10,000 cusecs water, as it would deepen the water crisis and render fertile lands barren.

He said the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 was also against construction of the Thal canal for which Rs30 billion had been sanctioned.

He blamed the chief minister for not taking a clear stand on the Thal canal and also criticized Shoaib Bokhari and Sardar Ahmad of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for keeping mum over the issue at meetings of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council and the Council of Common Interests.

He deplored that even the unanimously-approved resolution of the Sindh Assembly against the Thal canal was not considered.

On this occasion, Mr Khuhro, who is the convener of the anti-greater Thal canal action committee, announced the schedule of protest against the canal.

He said on June 17, token hunger strikes would be observed at district headquarters throughout the province. Opposition members of the Sindh Assembly would a observe hunger strike in the riverbed near Kotri the same day.

On June 19, people from suburbs would march towards towns and cities to stage anti-canal rallies. A big march would start from Hyderabad to Umerkot on June 22, he further said.

Larkana PPP general-secretary MNA Mohammad Anwar Bhutto, Larkana city president Nek Mohammad Tunio and district information secretary Asghar Shaikh were also present at the press conference.