Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker and PML-Q leader Raheela Tiwana has conditionally supported construction of Kalabagh dam and said development of water resources is need of the hour, however if the creation of Kalabagh dam damage Sindh interests it will not be acceptable to the people of Sindh at any cost.
Paying rich tributes to Musharraf's water, agriculture reforms, she said the President has first time resolved the critical water issue by aiming the Vision-2025, developing alternative water resources in shape of modernising the irrigation channels and watercourses, which would solve water scarcity.
Raheela Tiwana, the former Sindh PSF leader, who in the past also faced critical physical torture for raising her voice for democracy, change of system and peoples' rights in an exclusive interview told this scribe that President Musharraf is moderate army general with his deep commitments towards strengthening the phase of democracy. It would promote an enlightened and progressive Pakistan.
She said technical experts committees working on Kalabagh dam would resolve the lacunas in the proposed project and Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim would decide the matter in the wide interest of people and Sindh.
She out rightly rejected that Greater Thal Canal is being constructed to protect military lands and said the canal is need of the hour and water from the canal would be released to the people without any discretion.
The deputy speaker while quoting President Musharraf's agriculture reforms, said Rs 66 billion would be spent on lining of 86,000 watercourses in the next four years around the country to strengthen the producing classes. At least 600 bulldozers would be provided to farmers for land development in the next three years besides reducing 10 percent to 20 percent customs duty on import of tractors and exemption from sales tax and withholding income tax to encourage tractor manufacturing locally.
The powers to recover dues through arrest have been withdrawn while Agriculture Development Bank (ADB) has reduced mark up from 14 percent to 9 percent and further 8 percent in certain cases.
The banks have also introduced revolving credit schemes and expanding agriculture credit cards and lease financing for tractors, equipment and machinery.
The agriculture credit has been increased from Rs 65 billion to Rs 85 billion from current year and the scope of crop maximising project, which is successfully launched, would be extended manifolds, said Raheela Tiwana.
To a question about her political vision she said that she revolted against dictatorship in PPP and left the party because PPP leadership including Benazir Bhutto did not accept PSF revolutionary and democratic cadre in the party and exercised policies of sidelining this cadre in the party.
Resultantly, die-hard and committed party cadre gradually left the party when killers of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto were inducted in the party by discouraging the committed party cadres.
"In fact we revolted against criminals and their politics in the party", she maintained. Today political consciousness among the general public and political workers has been maturing mainly owing to Musharraf's grass root devolution of powers and none of party leader including regional or mainstream would have to run his/her party on orders or dictation.
While supporting the establishment of National Security Council, she said it would provide a check and balance environment to the democratic political system and closing the way of military intervention on permanent basis. To a query, Raheela Tiwana said it was shamefully happened that political elite invited army for intervention in the past to sabotage the democratic structures. When PPP formed her government, it was PML-N, which launched agitation against government, and the same practice was done by PPP when PML-N came in power.
She said a large numbers of PSF workers remained in jails, some of them killed brutally and they faced torture during Zia martial law but PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto out rightly ignored that cadre following capturing the power. Benazir Bhutto's past blunders has completely isolated her from committed party cadre and she was living in self-exile in abroad.
To a question, the Sindh assembly deputy speaker said removal of Hudood Ordinance is being considered seriously to ensure protection of women at all levels, adding the abuse of Karo-Kari would be rooted out with iron hands.
The Sindh deputy speaker also inaugurated a tool launching of San Jing, a Chinese biological and electronic instrument for health in Multan being introduced in collaboration with China in private sector. Dr Syed Riaz Ali and others were also present on the occasion.