PESHAWAR, March 3: The Pukhtukhawa Milli Awami Party has urged the federal government to drop the idea of constructing the Kalabagh dam, as it is tantamount to the destruction of Pukhtuns.

PMAP central executive member Bashir Khan Matta, in a statement on Thursday, advised the government to respect the feelings of smaller provinces, which were opposed to the controversial dam. Mr Matta also asked the government to stop 'serving the interests of Punjab' and portraying it as in the interest of Pakistan.

He said Gen Pervez Musharraf had tried to sell the idea of the controversial dam in Nowshera, which would be among the worst-affected areas if the dam was built. He said it was strange that instead of persuading on province (Punjab) to desist from a project which would harm the other three provinces. Mr Matta said Gen Musharraf was holding 'jirgas' to convince the Sindhis, Pukhtuns and Balochs of a thing which would only give them a widespread destruction.

He said that the provincial assemblies of all the smaller provinces had adopted resolutions against the construction of Kalabagh dam, but the rulers were making all moves against the aspirations of people of smaller provinces.

He said only self-serving people who had enjoyed the patronage of every government might broker Gen Musharraf's idea, but general people would reject construction of the dam.

Mr Matta said his party had been struggling for the rights of Pukhtuns and it was unacceptable to them to allow the rulers to submerge them under the Kalabagh dam.

He urged the rulers to respect the feelings of people and refrain from causing a social unrest in the country. He called upon all the political forces to unite against the construction of the controversial dam and defend their people.