KARACHI, Sept 8: President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain has announced that coordinators representing the PML-Q and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were being appointed in all the 18 towns of Karachi to sort out problems that arise frequently between them and to find their amicable solutions.

“The decision has been taken to allay reservation and apprehensions which keep emerging between workers of the two parties. The newly-appointed coordinators would maintain a liaison with leaders and activists of both the sides,” Mr Hussain said while responding to questions by newsmen at the residence of Imtiaz Shaikh, president of the Sindh Democratic Alliance (SDA) here on Monday.

“They (coordinators) would be entrusted with task to find amicable solution to any problems, dispute or grievances in consultation with the governor, chief minister and ministers,” he said while commenting on the outcome of his talks with the components of the Sindh coalition earlier in the day at Governor House and the decisions taken during the meetings.

Prominent among those present on the occasion were Nisar Ahmad Memon, Maqbool Ahmad Sheikh, Imtiaz Ahmad Sheikh, Irfanullah Marwat, Arbab Raheem and Arif Jatoi.

Mr Hussain said that during the talks, it was agreed that all problems and issues should be sorted out jointly in a congenial and cordial manner and to the satisfaction of both the sides.

About visit to the SDA chief’s residence, he said that it was aimed at extending formal invitation to friends in the SDA and National Alliance and to coordinate their efforts with the PML-Q to serve the masses in an effective manner.

“Our joint efforts would help us foil designs of the elements desperately seeking to derail democracy and weaken democratic institutions.”

Referring to the Rs29 billion development package, announced by President Musharraf for Karachi, the PML-Q chief said that monitoring of the development and reconstruction process was stressed, during the meeting at Governor House, to ensure an expeditious work.

When asked about discussion on the construction of Thal Canal and Kalabagh Dam issue, he said: “We are willing to sort out this issue with a consensus of all provinces.”

“In view of the acute water shortage the country may have to face in the next decade, construction of big dams is vital for the development and prosperity of the country, whether it is built under the name of Kalabagh Dam or any other one.”

Chaudhary Shujaat said that during his talks with the chief minister of Punjab, he had emphasized on the exigency to ensure measures to avoid causing any water loss to Sindh even if it was going to cause a loss to Punjab.

He said that the law and order situation obtaining in the province, particularly in Karachi, was also discussed threadbare as it was observed that the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues were competent enough to handle the situation by adopting effective administrative measures.

When asked to comment on the proposal put forward by the PML-F chief, Pir Pagara, about appointing President Musharraf as chief of a ‘United Muslim League’, he said that it was Pir Pagara’s personal view and that everyone has the right to express his views.

He hoped that all pending issues relating to Legal Framework Order (LFO) and other major constitutional amendments made by the government would be solved amicably as talks are under way with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA). The talks would elicit positive results soon, he added.

When his attention was drawn to the two resolutions adopted unanimously by the Sindh Assembly against the construction of Kalabagh Dam, he said it was a normal procedure of a House to adopt resolutions.

He, however, remarked that the elements who were now vociferous over this issue, had remained tight-lipped while in power which, he said, reflected their dual and hypocritical stand on this issue.

Later, Imtiaz Sheikh told newsmen that Sindh people were not opposed to the construction of any dam. However, he added, in view of the past experiences of unhonoured commitments on the part of the federal government with regard to the 1991 Water Accord, their apprehensions and fears were justified which should be taken care of by the government.

“People of the province, who are as patriotic as any other part of the country, fear that their lands, after the construction of Kalabagh Dam and Thal Canal, would be rendered barren, depriving them of their livelihood.” — PPI