KARACHI, Feb 22: The Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, has criticized the provincial government for turning a blind eye at the work being carried out for construction of the controversial Thal canal.

Speaking at a press conference in his chamber after Saturday’s session of the provincial assembly, Mr Khuhro pointed out that while Sindh was already facing an acute shortage of water rendering agricultural land barren, construction of Thal canal in southern Punjab would deal a major blow to the province’s economy.

Flanked by the MMA leader in the assembly, Qari Umar Sadiq, MPA Abdur Rehman Rajput and other members, Mr Khuhro lashed out at the provincial government for not taking appropriate measures to get the construction work stopped.

He told newsmen that the subject was on top of the agenda of the ongoing requisition session of the assembly but the same was brought down to No. 8 while his adjournment motion on the topic was placed at No.3.

He deplored the treasury benches’ manipulation aimed at avoiding a debate on this issue of significance and urgency during the last session.

Regarding the upcoming Senate elections, he said that his party enjoyed a better working relationship with the MMA and that both the sides would continue to support each other in the elections.

He deplored the federal and provincial government for, what he called, “horse-trading and pressure tactics against the opponents.”

“Suspension of the defection clause till the completion of Senate election process is an appropriate example of official horse-trading,” he remarked.

He urged the PPP Parliamentarians to resist the tactics for the sake of democracy. He spoke of mismanagement in various provincial departments, including Home and Irrigation.

Mr Khuhro deplored large scale transfers and postings of police officials and alleged that they were being made mainly on political grounds.—PPI