KARACHI, Nov 30: Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain has called upon the government to convene a national conference involving various political parties, including nationalist and religious groups, to deliberate on the construction of Kalabagh and Bhasha dams and build a national consensus on such contentious issues.

In a statement faxed from Nine Zero on Wednesday, Mr Hussain stressed the need for national consensus in view of the evolving international geo-political situation and the national political and economic situation following the Oct 8th earthquake.

In view of such situation, he said, it was not advisable to bring forward the contentious issues and projects on which there were serious differences between provinces as well as the political parties. In this context, he said that Bhasha Dam and Kalabagh Dam issue had generated acrimony among the provinces who had voiced their serious reservation and concerns.

He called for handling all these issues through national consensus and with all sincerity.