Political parties to be consulted on dam issue

The federal cabinet, which met here on Thursday, disucssed options on the country’s water reservoir needs and decided to take political parties into confidence on early construction of Kalabagh or Basha dam. The decision came as a surprise as it followed President Musharraf’s recent meeting with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim which is said to have ended on a dissenting note.

The meeting was a part of the president’s initiative of holding meetings with representatives of the four provinces. He was scheduled to meet the four provincial chief ministers on Friday (Dec 2) to continue the process of ‘taking the political leadership into confidence’ but the meeting was cancelled.

Federal Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told newsmen after the cabinet meeting that only the political leadership ‘within the country’ would be consulted on the issue, emphasising that ‘the leaders in exile have no role in the country’s politics.’ Mr Rashid reiterated that political future of Benazir Bhutto would be decided by the verdict in the Swiss reference and also that she would have to face cases in the country whenever she returned. Dawn