QUETTA, Dec 18: Deputy parliamentary leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in the National Assembly Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said on Sunday that the government must respect the resolutions adopted by the provincial assemblies of Sindh, the NWFP and Balochistan against the construction of Kalabagh dam.

Talking to journalists, the MMA leader urged the government to take up the Bhasha dam project.

He said the government had raised the controversy to divert people’s attention from important issues.

He asserted that the spirit of unity demonstrated by the nation and the contribution of religious groups and welfare organizations in areas affected by the October earthquake did not please the government because it could not impose its will on the masses in such an atmosphere.

He said that according to Article 155 of the Constitution, controversial matters related to water had to be placed before the Council of Common Interests.

He said that if the government was sincere in resolving the issue then the best option before it was to build the Bhasha dam.

ACTION URGED: Leaders of the Balochistan chapter of the Jafari Alliance (JA) have criticized the government for not taking action against those who are targeting leaders and scholars of the Shia community in the provincial capital.