HYDERABAD, May 26: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, Sindh chapter, has given an ultimatum to the federal government that if fresh water was not supplied to Sindh in a month , the alliance will start a protest movement against the government.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Wednesday, the Sindh president of the alliance, Zain Ansari, lamented the plight of the people of Sindh whom poisonous water was supplied for drinking and irrigation purposes.

PML-N leaders Zahid Rafiq Butt, Afzal Gujjar and Rana Ehsan were present on the occasion. Mr Ansari said that 1,910 patients had been admitted to the Liaquat University Hospital who suffered from the stomach diseases due to the consumption of poisonous water.

The ARD leader alleged that the government was telling lies to the people that the supply of clean water had been restored. He said that the situation in Badin and Thatta districts was no different as water to these areas was supplied from the same source - the Indus river.

He said that the government which could not supply poison- free water to the people had no right to remain in the power. He said that a large number of fishermen had shifted from the Manchhar lake after the release of poisonous water of the RBOD into it.

He said that authorities knew that the lake's water was poisonous yet it was released into the Indus and eventually supplied to the people for drinking. He said that Wasa and irrigation departments alone could not be blamed for the tragedy and added that the chief minister was equally responsible for the death of a large number of innocent people.

The ARD leader pointed out that even the fish pond owners had equipment to analyse the quality of water but the authorities did not care to check the quality of lake's water before it was released for human consumption.

He warned that the country could not afford any agitation due to the internal unrest and external threats. He said that the federal government was creating hatred between the federating units by not releasing water for Sindh.

Zahid Rafique said an inquiry commission comprising high court judges should be constituted to fix responsibility for supplying poisonous water to the people. He demanded that murder cases should be registered against the secretary irrigation and Wasa officials and they should be tried in an anti-terrorism court.