Anti-Thal Canal Action Committee has decided to reactivate itself after silence of almost three months and to hold "water conferences" in all towns of the province and to address district base councils.
The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of ATCAC held here last evening under chair of its convenor Nisar Ahmed Khuhro who is also provincial president of Pakistan Peoples Party.
The meeting was held at residence of PPP MPA Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi which was attended by leaders of component parties of action committee including Rasool Bux Palijo of Awami Tehrik, Hyder Shahani of Sindh Tarqi Pasand Party, Ayub Shar of Sindh National Front, Afzal Gujjar of Muslim League-(N), Taj Mohammed Nahyoon of Jamiat Ulema Islam-(F), Dr Ayub Sheikh, Shah Mohammed Shah, Aftab Khanzada and others.
Briefing newsmen Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said the beginning will be made from Thata where "water conference" will be held on July 13, 2004 and on same day the leaders of ATCAC will address district bar.
He said after 10 days another conference of similar nature will be held at Badin on July 23 and address to district bar on same day.
He said later the "water conferences" and address to bars will be held in all district towns after every 10 days.
He said the "Mass contact" drive will start from Thatta and Badin due to reason that both these districts were more hit by shortage of water to the extent that 1.3 million acres of irrigated land of these districts was eroded by sea.
He said people of Sindh had suffered atrocities during the period of General Pervez Musharraf and the government had been working on construction of Thal Canal and talking of Kala Bagh dam inspite of severe opposition and resistance by people of Sindh.
He condemned earmarking of Rs 1.5 billions in federal budget for Thal Canal.
He said the rulers want to damage the integrity of country while they (people of Sindh) want to save country. He said the meeting condemned the target killing of politicians in country and offered condolences.
Mentioning name of Senator Nisar Memon, the leader of opposition in Sindh Assembly said they should mend their behaviour to Sindh as one day they had to return back.
He asked people of Thar that the prime minister in waiting Shaukat Aziz was staunch supporter of Thal Canal and Kala Bagh dam as such they should think twice before voting for him.