HYDERABAD, Jan 15: The anti-greater Thal canal and Kalabagh dam action committee has condemned killings in the Bajaur agency and army operation in Balochistan. It vowed to hold a peaceful procession on January 18 in Hyderabad in protest against construction of controversial water projects. The committee met at residence of MPA Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi on Sunday under the leadership of Qaim Ali Shah and reviewed arrangements for the procession.

The meeting was attended by Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo, PP Parliamentarians MPA Makhdoom Jamiluz Zaman, Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party’s Dr Qadir Magsi, PML-N leaders Makhdoom Shahnawaz and Afzal Gujjar, Jamaat-i-Islami’s district Ameer Abdul Waheed Qureshi, Azam Jehangiri of the JUI-F and others.

The committee gave its membership to the Pakistan Labour Party of Farooq Tariq, and Pakistan Workers’ Party of Abid Hassan Manto.

Briefing journalists about deliberations of the committee, convenor Qaim Ali Shah said the meeting reviewed arrangements for the January 18 procession.

He condemned army operation in Balochistan and called to stop it immediately.

He said the committee believed that such tactics were aimed at prolonging present rule of the unconstitutional government. Mr Shah alleged, “President Gen Pervez Musharraf wants to sabotage formation of CCI, which is yet to be fully constituted as per requirement of the constitution”.

He maintained that it appeared that the rulers were taking the present situation to the 1971 debacle.

Chief of the Awami Tehrik Rasool Bux Palijo contended that the federal government and Punjab should talk to Sindh about distribution of water.

He said that an international commission should be formed to discuss the issue of water right from 1859 as Punjab had taken away six rivers though Sindh had also a right over them.

Mr Palijo claimed that Punjab was taking 33,000 cusecs of water for the greater Thal canal which proved destructive for Sindh.