Report on power breakdown today: Aziz

Published September 27, 2006

ISLAMABAD, Sept 26: Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi is likely to submit an inquiry report about the country’s worst-ever power breakdown on Wednesday, according to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Talking to newsmen at an Iftar-dinner on Tuesday, Prime Minister Aziz said two teams were probing the power breakdown, which triggered rumours about staging of a coup.

When a reporter asked about fixing of responsibility and possible punitive action, the premier countered and said whether the Wapda chairman was a technocrat or a businessman.

Commenting on the rumours triggered by Sunday’s power breakdown, the prime minister said they had been floated by politicians who had a negative and narrow vision, adding that they “must have been disappointed” when he was seen among masses in Aabpara.

He criticised the people who attributed every development to an intrigue and said that the country was being blessed by abundant rain this year but it might also lead to conspiracy theories.

When asked for his comment on General Pervez Musharraf’s book, the prime minister said that he wanted to save his comments for a news conference he intended to address on Wednesday.

Commenting about the chances of the beginning of a political dialogue to end the Balochistan crisis, the prime minister said that political talks were a regular feature and it was an ongoing process.

The prime minister said that people of the province wanted peace and progress, adding that the government was trying to achieve this by undertaking mega projects and accelerating the overall development process.