ISLAMABAD, The National Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a furor between the members of opposition and ruling coalition over Kalabagh Dam issue, with the former saying that it is inevitable and latter describing it as dead issue.
The House was holding a general discussion on budget 2010-11 in pacified mood on Tuesday that was overturned when the vocally bold parliamentarian of Pakistan Muslim League Bushra Rehman described the construction of Kalabagh Dam as inevitable, what has been scrapped by the government.
She said the country was undergoing a sever power crisis, downing the industrial and agriculture sector but Kalabagh Dam issue is being politicized, that invited the ire of MNAs from Awami National Party and Sindh-based members of Pakistan Peoples Party.
"Kalabagh Dam is preordained. It would be built in the next generation, if it could not be done during my life," she said.
The sloganeering from both sides of the aisle started for and against the much-controversial project, neglecting the repeated rulings of Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi not to disrupt proceedings and observe decorum.
Meanwhile, the female MNA sought help from the proponents of the Dam those immediately arose on their seats, prompting the opponents too, to follow the suit and started shouting at each other.
However, Muttahida Qaumi Movement kept mum during the situation, in much astonishment of the members as well as the Press Gallery.
Deputy Speaker said, "She has just expressed her opinion. It never means that Dam has been constructed." But his rulings could not calm down the shouting members including PML-N's Hanif Abbasi, Abid Sher Ali, Sheikh Rohail Asghar and ANP's Pervaiz Khan Advocate and Bushra Gohar and others.
Speaking on a point of order, Sheikh Rohail Asghar said it is not merely the issue of a dam rather the national security as well as of coming generations, vowing to sacrifice lives for the purpose.
In his rejoinder, Pervaiz Khan Advocate said the construction of Kalabagh Dam would be contrary to the democracy as three provincial assemblies have already adopted a resolution against the project.
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Furor in NA over Kalabagh Dam issue
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