HYDERABAD, March 6: The chairman, Sindh Taraqqi Passand Party, Dr Qadir Magsi, has said that following the adoption of a unanimous resolution by the Sindh Assembly against the greater Thal canal, it was now the duty of the federal government to stop the ongoing work on the canal.

He was talking to different delegations which called on him at the Taraqqi Passand House on Thursday.

He said that if the federation failed to give orders for the suspension of the ongoing work, the people of Sindh would feel alienated, and added that it was not possible to clap with one hand.

Mr Magsi said that if the federation failed to respect the sentiments of the Sindhi people, they would be quite justified in disowning the federation.

He said that the water issue was a matter of life and death for the people of Sindh, and added that the attitude of the people of Sindh with the federation and Punjab would be determined by the attitude of the rulers with regard to the greater Thal canal and the Kalabagh Dam.

He said that to continue work on the greater Thal canal would be tantamount to showing disrespect to the elected members of the Sindh assembly and 45 million people of Sindh.

Referring to the contradictory statements of the irrigation minister of Punjab and the secretary, irrigation, on the issue of the greater Thal canal, Mr Magsi said this contradiction spoke volumes for the hypocrisy of Punjab’s rulers.

He demanded that work on the canal should be stopped forthwith and the decision of the Sindh Assembly in this regard should be honoured.