KARACHI, Dec 30: The Karachi Coordination Committee of the Pakistan People’s Party on Friday expressed concern over Gen Pervez Musharraf’s intention to construct controversial dams despite a popular opposition to the Kalabagh dam.

It noted that the situation in Balochistan was getting volatile with each passing day due to the military operation in that province, and demanded an immediate halt to the operation and withdrawal of troops. It asked the regime to hold dialogue with the political forces in Balochistan and give the province and its people their due share as per the constitution.

The KCC meeting, held at the Bilawal House under the chairmanship of Coordinator Aftab Shaban Mirani, was attended by Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Nawab Yousuf Talpur, Prof N. D. Khan and Nafees Siddiqui.

At the outset, the KCC meeting paid tributes to the people of Sindh for adequately demonstrating their opposition by participating in the December 22 rally against Kalabagh Dam at Karachi, and appreciated Syed Qaim Ali Shah and other leaders of the Anti-Kalabagh Dam and Thal Canal Action Committee for organizing the same in a disciplined manner.

The meeting also discussed violation of party discipline by certain members.

Meanwhile the MNA Sherry Rehman and Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani have strongly condemned the military operation in Balochistan and General Musharraf’s outrageous remarks about the construction of controversial Kalabagh Dam. “He should shun such divisive policies before entire Pakistan stands up against him,” they said.

They observed Pakistani troops were trained to test their muscles against enemies and aggressors, but General Musharraf was pitting them against their own countrymen. Such moves had created doubts among the people of Pakistan about the motives of Gen Musharraf and his kitchen cabinet, they added.

The PPP leaders said that it was very serious issue that the military regime had started treating people of this country as enemies and was bombarding their homes in a cruel manner. This would certainly damage the institution of the armed forces.

“The military regime has put the very future of Pakistan at stake just to hide its own failure in the rescue and relief operation in the aftermath of the October 8 earthquake.

“The Kalabagh Dam issue was, in fact, kicked up to divert the sympathies of Pakistanis from earthquake victims and their woes,” they said, adding that Gen Musharraf or any other individual had no authority to play with the roots of the country.