LAHORE, June 18: The joint opposition in the Punjab Assembly has announced that it will support all positive steps, including the construction of Kalabagh dam, to be taken by the provincial government.

Speaking at a press conference after boycotting the debate on budget on Wednesday, Qasim Zia, Rana Sanaullah and Asghar Gujjar denied the government’s claim that it had released development funds to most of the opposition members. They challenged the government to issue a list of such MPAs to whom the funds had been released.

They said all studies conducted so far revealed that the country might face a shortage of water and power in 2005. But, they said, no one (in the government) was ready to pay any attention to the fact.

They said the government, after removing reservations and suspicions of the NWFP and Sindh, should start construction of the Kalabagh dam as the opposition would completely and unconditionally support it.

They said the opposition would soon prepare a strategy for taking the movement continuing in the assemblies against the LFO and the president’s uniform, to the streets. He said the period for protest against the LFO in the house would be increased.

Earlier, the opposition members protested against the LFO for about 20 minutes in the house when the session started in the morning. Later, they walked out of the house and demonstrated at the staircase leading to the assembly building.