KARACHI, June 23: Leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro, has criticized the treasury benches and the speaker for not giving serious consideration to the alleged aspersions cast at the opponents of the Greater Thal Canal (GTC) project.

Addressing a news conference in his chamber on Monday, he contested the treasury benches’ claim that the Punjab minister had denied having said that opponents of the GTC project in the Sindh Assembly represented ‘Hindu lobby’.

Mr Khuhro insisted that the minister had repeated the allegation by taking his name on the floor of the Punjab Assembly. He pointed that the concerned minister had not offered any apology for his slur which had dangerous implications because it amounted to linking the opponents with the elements across the border.

He said that he had no faith in the move for sending the privilege motions to the special committee because the members had seen the fate of the motion, pertaining to the water issue, against Hamid Malahi, Coordinator of the Punjab Water Council.

He alleged that even today, the Speaker did not allow the opposition to speak on the Punjab minister’s statement. He said the assembly the right to discuss the issue which pertained to insult of the whole House because the assembly had adopted resolutions against the project jointly.

Mr Khuhro was also critical of the alleged indifferent attitude of the prime minister towards the problems of Sindh.

Maulana Umar Sadiq of the MMA supported the demand of censuring the Punjab minister on the floor of the House.