THATTA, June 2: Two Pakistan Muslim League-Q MNAs and the district Naib Nazim have demanded an inquiry into an irrigation scheme, alleging that contracts for undertaking the scheme have been given to ineligible persons.

In their separate statements issued here on Wednesday, MNA Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Shirazi and MNA Mohammad Ali Malkani and Naib Nazim Shaukat Ali Malkani said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf had announced Rs13 billion for restoration of the irrigation network in the province.

However, they alleged that the irrigation department had awarded the contracts on 10 per cent commission. The MNAs said that they had complained to the Sindh irrigation secretary in writing but could not contact the irrigation minister.

They said that they would raise the issue on the floor of the National Assembly. Meanwhile, Mr Malkani, while speaking at a press conference in Jati on Tuesday, expressed concern over the slow pace of the scheme, saying that this would affect growers. He said that low-quality material was being used in the scheme.

He warned that a protest campaign would be launched in Thatta from June 10 if authorities concerned did not release water in a week. The Naib Nazim alleged that the Rs170 million Begna minor project had been undertaken to irrigate lands of a Sindh minister.