PESHAWAR, Sept 3: Reiterating Awami National Party’s stand against the construction of Kalabagh dam, Begum Nasim Wali Khan has rejected the option of holding referendum to seek public opinion on the controversial issue.

In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, ANP provincial chief said that her party would never accept the referendum on the Kalabagh dam as it would be detrimental to the unity and sovereignty of the country and those talking about this option were actually endangering the existence of the country.

“Those talking about holding referendum are trying to make people of the three smaller provinces feel that the largest province, on the basis of its greater population, can impose any decision on the other federating units,” the ANP leader said.

She said that in view of what she called doctored results of the last referendum held to elect Gen Pervez Musharraf as president, and the earlier refrendum organized by military dictator Gen Zia-ul-Haq, the people of the country had lost faith in this exercise, hence, the Awami National Party would never accept this option.

“The party would never compromise its stand on the issue and no force can make it change its stand against the execution of the controversial project,” said the ANP provincial chief.