KARACHI, Dec 22: Rejecting the Kalabagh dam, leaders of various political and nationalist parties on Thursday warned that the controversial project was detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

Speaking at a big rally in front of the Sindh High Court building here on Shahrah-i-Iraq, they accused the government of conspiring against the unity of federation by creating a rift among provinces.

They criticized the military rulers for pursuing ‘ill-advised’ policies that had jeopardized the country’s integrity, particularly the Kalabagh dam plan and the ongoing military ‘operation’ in Balochistan.

The rally was organized by the Anti-Kalabagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal Action Committee which has representation of several political and nationalist organizations.

Prominent among speakers were Leader of Opposition in the Senate Raza Rabbani, Action Committee convener Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh National Front chairman Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party chief Dr Qadir Magsi, Awami Party leader Rasul Bakhsh Palijo, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leader Dr Khalid Soomro, Balochistan National Party chief Akhtar Mengal and National Party chairman Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch.

Earlier, the participants carrying flags of their respective parties and raising slogans against the Kalabagh dam and government converged on Mazar-i-Quaid and started their march towards the venue of the rally where a large number of people were already present.

In his speech, Mumtaz Bhutto said that by staging such a huge rally the people of Sindh had sent a clear message to rulers that they were against the construction of the Kalabagh dam.

He said that since Pakistan came into being rulers had been making moves to turn the life of Sindhis miserable.

He declared that unless the rule of Islamabad was put to an end and the rights of provinces were recognized, exploitation of smaller provinces would continue.

Mr Asfandyar Wali assured the Sindhi people that they were not alone in their struggle against the Kalabagh dam as Pukhtuns, Balochs and Seraikis stood behind them.

The ANP leader said he had made it clear to General Musharraf that Kalabagh dam and Pakistan could not coexist and he had to choose one of them.

In fact, he pointed out, the rulers were trying to pit smaller provinces against Punjab. He maintained that people of smaller provinces were fighting not only for rights but for their survival, and rulers should know that there would be no compromise on it.

Mr Palijo alleged that successive rulers had dishonoured the pledges of the Founder of the Nation. He said military rulers had always betrayed the masses, worked against democracy, subjugated the smaller provinces and trampled the constitutional rule.

Dr Qadir Magsi urged the government to stop what he called the victimization of smaller provinces, saying Sindhi people had proved that they would not surrender their rights.

He said Sindhi people would never allow the construction of dam as they considered it as death warrant.

Mr Mengal and the Dr Hayee Baloch condemned the rulers for launching a military operation in Balochistan. They assured the people of Sindh of their full support in their struggle against the Kalabagh dam.

PPP leader Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that Sindhis, Balochs and Pukhtuns had given their verdict that they were against the construction of the dam.

JUI’s Khalid Soomro said the country was being ruled by generals who had allegedly sold out Pakistan to Americans.

Mairaj Mohammad Khan called for early solution of the issue of the NFC award.

PPP Senator Raza Rabbani, PML-N’s leader Mamnoon Husain, National Workers Party leader Yusuf Mustikhan and others also spoke.