PESHAWAR, Oct 29: The Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has asked the federal government to strive to achieve consensus on the issue of Kalabagh dam and take all federating units into confidence before proceeding further on the issue.

Speaking at a Press conference, MMA spokesman Mufti Kafayatullah said: "Our stand on the Kalabagh issue has not changed. We cannot agree to the construction of Kalabagh dam if our province's rights are violated."

Hailing the announcement of a special package for the NWFP after Eid by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Mufti Kafayatullah said it was a positive sign which showed that relations between the federal and the provincial governments were cordial. He termed it a success of the MMA government in its efforts to achieve the province's rights.

In reply to a question, he said that the special package announced by the prime minister had nothing to do with the NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani's participation in the National Security Council (NSC) meetings.

He expressed concern over the situation in South Waziriztan and regretted the attack on a tribal jirga that left 14 people dead. "It is a clear indication that the government is not serious in ensuring peace in South Waziristan through peaceful talks and the attack on the tribal jirga is one indication of that," he said.

He said the situation in South Waziristan should be resolved through peaceful negotiations and steps should be taken to restore confidence of the people in the government.

The military operations in South Waziristan, he said, should be stopped immediately, adding that the tribal people and their aspirations should be respected "instead of taking action on orders received from abroad".