HYDERABAD, July 10: The anti-greater Thal canal and Kalabagh dam action committee on Monday rejected the formation of the Council of Common Interests. It said that since Gen Pervez Musharraf had already taken a decision about the Kalabagh dam, the formation of the CCI was of no use.

Briefing newsmen after a meeting at the residence of MPA Ali Nawaz Rizvi, committee convenor Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that as per the federal list-II, decisions related to electricity, water and heavy industries were to be referred to the CCI and subsequently it could be taken up by parliament.

He said that the committee expressed no confidence over induction of members of the CCI as it was formed after the president announced decision about construction of water reservoirs including the Kalabagh dam.

He said that the CCI was formed under compulsion by the government because the Supreme Court had directed the government to constitute the CCI in connection with the Pakistan Steels Mills.

He said that head of the state was supposed to be neutral but he had vowed to build water reservoirs.

“We do not expect any fair decision from the CCI when the president has already announced his decision”, he said.

He said that it should have been formed seven years back.

He said that four members were sycophant type of people and they would only toe the line of the government.

He said that members whose integrity was above-board in the eyes of people of Sindh should have been made members of the CCI.

He said that had there been a genuinely elected government it would have respected people’s aspiration over such important issues.

He said that the committee decided to hold a seminar over water soon.

Regarding the greater Thal canal, he deplored attitude of the Sindh government saying it did not file a complaint with the federal government against canal for which a joint and unanimous resolution was passed by the Sindh Assembly.

He said that the Thal canal which was being built unlawfully should be stopped and no more construction should take place in the wake of acute water shortage.

He said that committee members had individually met diplomats over the water issue and appreciated announcement of the World Bank that it would not support construction of water reservoirs in absence of consensus.

He said that the WB had timely responded to calls of people of Sindh.

He said that the committee condemned decision of the Sindh government regarding allocation of 40 per cent of jobs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and 60 per cent to other coalition partners.

He said that jobless people of Sindh would not be getting jobs despite the fact that unemployment in the province stood at 50 per cent.