Federal govt offers to sit down with Sindh authorities to resolve the latter’s concerns over the contentious & disputed canal projects through dialogue
Rana Sanaullah, Sharjeel Memon agree to address the matter through negotiations
ISLAMABAD ( WEB NEWS )
In a positive development, the federal government has offered to sit down with the Sindh authorities to resolve the latter’s concerns over the contentious and disputed canal projects through dialogue.
The development comes during a telephonic conversation between Adviser to Prime Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah Khan and Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, where both leaders agreed to address the matter through negotiations.
They talked about resolving the long-standing issue concerning the distribution and management of water resources through canals.
Rana Sanaullah, in a statement, said that Premier Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have instructed him to alleviate Sindh’s concerns regarding the canal issue.
He expressed the federal government’s willingness for equitable distribution of resources, including water, among all provinces. “We believe in the fair distribution of resources, including water, among all units.”
On the other hand, Sharjeel Memon said that the Sindh government has consistently presented its stance on the canal issue at every available forum.
He also highlighted the strong reservations of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the people of Sindh regarding the disputed canals. “The PPP and the people of Sindh have serious reservations about the controversial canals.”
The senior provincial minister further said that the PPP demanded fair distribution of water as per the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord for the people of Sindh. However, he also expressed the provincial government’s willingness to engage in talks with the federal government.
Rana Sanaullah stressed the importance of resolving the issue through discussions. “We should not politicise the water issue. Matters should be resolved by sitting at the table,” he said. He also acknowledged the PPP’s role as a part of the federation, urging its leaders to act responsibly while holding constitutional positions.
Moreover, he said that the federal government respects the PPP leadership and believes the 1991 water accord and the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act ensure fairness. “With the 1991 agreement between the provinces and the IRSA Act in place, there can be no injustice to anyone.”
He affirmed that no province’s water can be allocated to another and that the country has constitutional mechanisms and laws to prevent such occurrences. “Dialogue and consultation are the solution to every problem,” he concluded.
Speaking to the media in Hyderabad on Sunday, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Kesoo Mal Kheal Das Kohistani assured the PPP that the federal government would not take “any unilateral” steps and hold talks with the party to arrive at a consensus over the issue. “No such action would be taken that would upset any province. I assure Sindh’s people that the Centre will not take any unilateral decision,” he said.
“This step cannot be taken forward until the reservations of Sindh’s people are allayed,” the PML-N MNA added. Referring to the Council of Common Interests, he said discussions would be taken to the relevant “constitutional forum”.
He added that the canals project had not even been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council.
Asked about a recent incident in which his vehicle was reportedly targeted by protesters in Thatta, he said: “I cannot say that the PPP was part of this. I consider the PPP a democratic party [and] it has never done such acts.
“Everyone saw the flags and faces of those who carried out this attack, and a case has also been filed against them by the police. I have been told that some arrests have also been made,” he added.
“In my opinion, such cowardly acts cannot stop us from our work,” the PML-N MNA said. He noted that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was a “national leader” and that representing the rights of Sindh, where his party was in power, was his responsibility.
“There is nothing wrong with it. The PPP has the right to have its stance. There are protests and rallies in a democracy, but the only thing that should not be is incitement,” Kheal Das continued.
The PML-N lawmaker said he had spoken on the phone with PM Shehbaz Sharif yesterday on the issue of the canals project. “God-willing, the government will soon talk to the PPP leadership on this matter and we will invite them [the PPP] to talks so this matter can be solved amicably.
“It is not a good thing to have infighting and hatred between provinces; it will hinder Pakistan’s development,” he said, noting that Sindh’s reservations were “justified and would be resolved”.
He added that some people wanted to conspire to create a rift between the PML-N and the PPP and that the government would “foil that conspiracy”.