KARACHI, Dec 20: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has opposed the policy of punishing the entire Balochistan population for crimes committed by a handful of individuals and called for resuming negotiations to solve the problem of the south-western province.

In a statement issued from London, he also said that water shortage and the need to build reservoirs were nothing new for Pakistan; it was a universal problem.

The demand for new reservoirs was being felt the world over, he said and advised President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz that big and small dams should be built with the agreement of all. “Nothing should be done to alienate any segment of the population,” he added.

Mr Hussain said no decision should be taken against the will of the people. The administration should avoid opting for any dam or project on which there were reservations among the masses.

About Balochistan, the MQM chief said that negotiations for peaceful solutions should be resumed. It was necessary to remove the ill-will and apprehensions among the Balochis, he added.

He said that when Pakistan was ready to shake hands with old enemies for the sake of peace in South Asia, why could the rulers “not be friendly to our own people and search for political settlement”.

On Monday night, Mr Hussain got an overwhelming mandate from his party’s parliamentarians, federal and provincial ministers and members of the provincial assembly on the Rabita Committee’s decision to oppose the construction of Kalabagh dam.