HYDERABAD, March 16: The chief of the National Awami Party Pakistan (NAPP), Ajmal Khatak, has stressed the need for consensus on important national issues and said without consensus no development could be brought about in Pakistan nor could peace be restored.

He was talking at a public meeting here late Friday night.

He said in furtherance of this objective, he was making all out efforts to create harmony among the people and the nations.

He said after the announcement of a road map for general elections, the politicians were running about to capture power while the rulers were trying to perpetuate their power.

He said there were anarchic conditions in the country but nobody seemed interested in the welfare of the people.

Mr Khatak rejected American interference into the internal affairs of Afghanistan and said those who were supporting American aggression were committing a grave mistake.

He said for the restoration of lasting peace in Afghanistan, it was extremely necessary that according to the historical traditions of that country, the people of Afghanistan should be allowed to decide their destiny through Loya Jirga.

He criticized the federal interior minister for what he called sabotaging his campaign for peace in Karachi and said he was not allowed to hold a public meeting there.

Speaking on the occasion, the provincial president of the party, Mohammad Amin Khatak, said Sindh was the citadel of peace and added they could sacrifice their lives for peace.

Rejecting the greater Thal canal project, he pointed out protest demonstrations were being held throughout Sindh against this project. He said no water project should be constructed without the consent of Sindh.

The others who spoke on the occasion included Khayal Shah Khatak, Haji Kamal Khan, and Shakir Buneri.

The meeting adopted a resolution demanding no water project should be constructed which could prove harmful for the unity, integrity and solidarity of Pakistan, the “nations” should be taken into confidence and the projects should be constructed after consensus is reached on them.