Kalabagh Dam: Consensus conditional for project, says PML-N
In 1998, despite being the ruling party, the party had steered clear of initiating the dam’s construction.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) opposes the construction of the controversial Kalabagh Dam power project without consensus, just as it did when it was the ruling party in 1998, said Senator Pervez Rashid, a key leader of the PML-N and spokesperson for the Punjab government.
While commenting on Lahore High Court’s (LHC) judgment which ordered the federal government to implement a year long decision by the Council of Common Interest for the building of the dam, Rashid said, “Kalabagh Dam should not be constructed without the consent of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
In 1998, despite being the ruling party, the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz had steered clear of initiating the dam’s construction arbitrarily, the spokesperson explained.
“We respected the views of people from those two provinces. Their apprehension over the dam’s construction encouraged Nawaz Sharif to give up the plan,” said Rashid, adding that the party will maintain its commitment to consensus, and hence, might approach the Supreme Court against the LHC order. “We will have to see that on what grounds the provinces or other political parties challenge the court order,” said the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz leader.
Rashid said that the Lahore High Court’s order to the federal government followed a constitutional petition by an individual who wanted the Council of Common Interest’s (CCI) decision to be implemented. The CCI decision demanded that the federal government construct the project without further delay. The LHC judgment was taken on mere legal grounds after the petition.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2012.
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) opposes the construction of the controversial Kalabagh Dam power project without consensus, just as it did when it was the ruling party in 1998, said Senator Pervez Rashid, a key leader of the PML-N and spokesperson for the Punjab government.
While commenting on Lahore High Court’s (LHC) judgment which ordered the federal government to implement a year long decision by the Council of Common Interest for the building of the dam, Rashid said, “Kalabagh Dam should not be constructed without the consent of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
In 1998, despite being the ruling party, the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz had steered clear of initiating the dam’s construction arbitrarily, the spokesperson explained.
“We respected the views of people from those two provinces. Their apprehension over the dam’s construction encouraged Nawaz Sharif to give up the plan,” said Rashid, adding that the party will maintain its commitment to consensus, and hence, might approach the Supreme Court against the LHC order. “We will have to see that on what grounds the provinces or other political parties challenge the court order,” said the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz leader.
Rashid said that the Lahore High Court’s order to the federal government followed a constitutional petition by an individual who wanted the Council of Common Interest’s (CCI) decision to be implemented. The CCI decision demanded that the federal government construct the project without further delay. The LHC judgment was taken on mere legal grounds after the petition.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2012.