PPP rejects proposed Irsa legislation in NA

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Monday strongly condemned and rejected the planned legislation with regard to Indus River System Authority (Irsa).

Speaking in the National Assembly, Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur said he wanted to convey strong condemnation of the IRSA Act from the PPP here. “It was stated by our party chairman that it will be done over his dead body. I also want to convey the same feelings on the issue,” he said. Talpur said a similar attempt regarding promulgation of IRSA Ordinance was made by the interim government, but then President of Pakistan, did not sign the document after the move was opposed by the Sindh province. Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, who also belongs to the PPP and Sindh province, on request from Syed Naveed Qamar, allowed four party MNAs to speak on the issue.

Ghulam Ali Talpur said according to the planned legislation, the prime minister would appoint IRSA chairman with a special secretary and a technical committee under their supervision would monitor distribution of water. “The whole exercise will be done under supervision of a bureaucrat,” he said and added that in the past also, a bureaucrat Jamaat Ali Shah, who was Indus Water Commissioner, faced charges of treason, as he helped India in creation of two dams. “Due to one of dams, the Indian government managed sustained electricity supply to Siachin base camp cantonment,” he recalled. He questioned as to why the IRSA legislation was being brought to change the face of authority when 1991 water accord exists there, saying whether it was being done by enemies or friends of Pakistan. “We will not accept any dacoity on our water share,” he said.

Shabbir Bijarani said that despite its reservations, the Sindh province signed 1991 water accord between the federal government and provinces. However, he said the role the federal government was only to monitor implementation of the treaty, whereas provinces have to decide about distribution of water. He also expressed the concerns that the federal government would decide to appoint a BS-21 officer to head IRSA, which, he said, was against the water treaty. He said it was a settled issue that IRSA chairman would be appointed from provinces on rotational basis. “This is very sensitive issue, and you cannot touch it without involvement of the Council of Common Interests (CCI),” the PPP parliamentarian said, and called for an emergent meeting of chief ministers, provincial ministers concerned and officials to address the issue.

Sadiq Ali Memon also expressed his concerns over reports that the federal government would appoint IRSA chairman for an extended period. He said the Sindh farmers had concerns as to how 800,000 acres of land under Cholistan command area project would be irrigated without any additional water, saying that as a result of that, the agricultural land in Sindh province would be devastated.

Nawab Yousuf Talpur said that no water should be diverted to any new land without consent of the Sindh province particularly when there was shortage of water. Veteran politician said that from where new 4.8 million acres land would be irrigated when no additional water was available. He observed that IRSA was an independent body and there should be no controversial legislation regarding the forum.

Later, on suggestion of Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the NA speaker referred the matter to the standing committee concerned. He said the parliamentarians and IRSA members would also be invited at committee’s meeting on special invitation.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, responding to a calling attention notice, moved by MQM parliamentarians, said the privatization process of PIA would be completed by end of next month. He said the operation of PIA flights from Hyderabad airport was financially not feasible as the airline was already facing heavy losses.

Parliamentary leader of PTI Zartaj Gul registered her strong protest over registration of cases against the party leadership after a rally in Islamabad. Ms. Shaista Parvaiz of PMLN protested against use of objectionable remarks by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during his address at a rally in Islamabad. “He will have to apologise for his remarks; otherwise he will be paid in the same coin,” she said.