PPP, PTI seeks NA debate on canals

Two parties submit separate resolutions; PTI demands CCI meeting on water project; Schism widens

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) landed in hot waters as the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – an ally and an opponent, respectively – have submitted separate resolutions in the National Assembly against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River, bringing the diverse political forces against the ruling party.

To add insult to injury, the PPPP alleged that its resolution against the canals has not yet come on the agenda despite it being submitted on April 7 in the assembly secretariat. The PPPP's official statement came after PTI submitted a resolution in the assembly secretariat on Thursday against the project, announcing it would seek the PPPP's support for the passage of the resolution from the lower house of parliament.

However, the PPPP leaders gave a cold shoulder to the main opposition party, saying that the PTI instead support its resolution submitted on April 7.

Though it's not the first time the PML-N and the PPPP have come face-to-face, the disputed canal issue has brought PPPP to boiling point as the party has made it clear that it would not settle for anything less than winding up the whole project.

The widening schism between ruling the PML-N and its key ally, the PPP, was also on full display in the National Assembly on Monday when the PPP didn't mince any words on six canal issue and not only demanded from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to abandon the project but warned that mishandling the issue could even lead to erupting a war in Pakistan.

Fearing a war-like situation in the country over frequent taunts on water issue, PPPP MNA and party spokesperson Shazia Marri had said that the way issue was being handled or mocked could lead to spearing anarchy in the country.

"The way you [federal government] are handling it; the way you are mocking it; the way weird statements are being given in a province; we feel that an attempt is being made to ignite fire in Pakistan; we feel that peace in Pakistan is in danger," Marri had said on the floor of the House.

In the previous sitting, Marri had demanded that the Prime Minister should have been on the floor of the House and announce that the project was being abandoned. "He [PM] should have said that it's not happening and this is the assurance that we want," Marri had said, "until this happens, we will keep on saying no more canals on Indus."

On Thursday, the party spokesperson issued a statement, revealing that not only its resolution was taken up on the agenda but PML-N and MQM-P – another coalition partner of the government – didn't support PPPP's resolution, which hasn't yet been tabled, while the PTI created ruckus in the house last Monday.

PPPP lawmakers had lashed out at the ruling PML-N for constantly ignoring PPPP's reservations in the previous sitting and held PML-N's provincial ministers for issuing 'reckless statements' and federal ministers for maintaining a conspicuous silence.

In response to hard-hitting speeches of PPPP legislators, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had assured the PPP leaders that not a single drop of Sindh's water share would be taken by any other province, saying everything will be discussed and settled before taking any step.

Nevertheless, Dar while assuring that Punjab won't be utilizing water share of any other province had said that no one should object if Punjab builds canals and uses its own share of water. Despite his assurance, PPP leaders had not believed and demanded that a meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI) – a constitutional body which deliberates on the disputes of power sharing between the federation and its provinces –should immediately be called to settle the issues for once and all.

Despite the PML-N's response in the House the other day, Marri said in her latest statement that the "PPP is continuously demanding the passage of a resolution against the construction of canals on the Indus River." She said that President Asif Ali Zardari had clearly stated in his address to parliament that he would not support the canals project, terming the decision unilateral. She added that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had also said that such unilateral decisions were against the federation.

Meanwhile, PTI MNAs Zartaj Gul, Ahmed Chatta and Ali Muhammad Khan submitted the resolution on behalf of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, in the assembly secretariat. Talking to the media, the PTI leaders demanded a CCI meeting on the canals issue. Gul said that there were concerns over the canals as such a sensitive decision was being taken without calling a CCI meeting. The speaker should bring the resolution on the assembly agenda on Friday (today) for an open debate in the house, she added.

Khan said that the PTI stands by the people of Sindh on their opposition to the proposed Indus canals, saying if the PPP was against it then it should support the PTI's resolution. When asked that PTI accused President Asif Zardari of "stealing Sindh's water" on the one hand and sought its support on the other, Khan said that Zardari was the president and he chaired the meeting that approved the canals, therefore, he was responsible.

The PTI's resolution demanded convening of a CCI meeting within 15 days to resolve the canals issue and addressing Sindh's reservations to the project. It said that the work on the Cholistan Canal should be stopped until the CCI approved the project. Furthermore, the resolution demanded an impartial audit of the water supply certificate issued by the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) within 60 days. It calls for stopping the project until 10 million acre feet (MAF) water was ensured downstream Kotri.

PTI's resolution states that the construction of canals in Punjab, including the Cholistan Canal project initiated under the Green Pakistan Initiative and approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), has raised significant concerns in Sindh regarding potential reductions in its water share and downstream environmental impacts.

Reacting to the PTI leaders' media talk, Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro said that the PTI resolution strengthened the PPP's position on the issue, adding that the opposition accepted that the Sindh government had already gone to the CCI against the controversial canals. He urged the PTI to support the PPP's resolution presented on April 7.

(WITH INPUT FROM OUR KARACHI CORRESPONDENT)