HYDERABAD, Aug 27: Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz chairman Bashir Khan Qureshi has said the protest movement against the construction of the greater Thal canal and the Kalabagh dam will continue.

He was speaking at a press conference at the press club here on Tuesday following President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s visit to the city.

Mr Qureshi criticized the rulers for continuing with what he called anti-Sindh projects and accused them of protecting the interests of a particular province. He said construction of the projects would not be allowed by the people of Sindh.

He rejected the claim that the Kalabagh dam and the Thal canal would benefit Sindh.

He alleged all water accords were thrust on Sindh by force.

The JSQM chief said 32,000 barrels of oil valued at Rs40 million was excavated in Badin and other oilfield of Sindh per day. He said if the rulers were interested in the prosperity of Sindh they should spend the resources, and income from the Karachi harbour, on development of the province.

Condemning the recent bomb blasts, he said the explosions were aimed at diverting attention of the people from the Thal canal.

He also criticized the arrest of the journalists in Jamshoro during the visit of President Musharraf to the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology.

The JSQM chairman said a meeting of the central body of the party would be held on Sept 1 to chalk out future course of action against the water projects.

Responding to a question about the rift in the the party leadership, Mr Qureshi said it was of no consequence.

Answering a question about his party’s alliance with the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement, he said the JSQM would part ways with the Mutahidda the day it started working against the interests of Sindh.

Meanwhile, Jeay Sindh Students Federation activists observed a black day at the Technical College, Hyderabad and Jamshoro campuses, against the Kalabagh dam and the Thal canal.

STPP: Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi has said the Sindh visit of the president to muster support for construction of the Kalabagh dam and the Thal canal was tantamount to suppress the opinion of the people of the province who had already rejected the projects.

He was talking to party workers at the Taraqqi Pasand House in Qasimabad here on Tuesday.

Dr Magsi said intellectuals and irrigation experts of the province had also made it clear to President Musharraf in Karachi on Aug 25 that the people of Sindh were against the water projects on the River Indus.

Dr Magsi hailed the intellectuals and experts for apprising the president of Sindh’s reservations regarding the projects.

He called upon parliamentarians from Sindh not to favour the projects.

The STPP chief said a resolution would be moved at the next meeting of the anti-Thal canal committee, calling for launching a boycott of the people and politicians supporting the two projects.

SNP: Sindh National Party chairman Amir Bhambhro has said any minister or adviser who tried to launch a movement in favour of the Thal canal and the Kalabagh dam will be branded as a traitor. He was talking to party workers here on Tuesday.