Tension over Jacobabad Sum drain: SE Irrigation says no work allowed inside Balochistan

JAFARABAD: Superintending Engineer Irrigation Circle, Naseerabad Division, Mudassir Zafar Khosa has said that tension over the disputed Jacobabad Sum drain has intensified.

According to him, Sindh Irrigation officials did not stop the construction work. On the directions of Jafarabad Deputy Commissioner Khalid Khan and Sohbatpur Deputy Commissioner Farida Tareen, Balochistan Irrigation officials then went to the site with the district administration and tried to stop the work.

However, an angry group of people linked to government contractor Sher Muhammad Mughairi, who were present there, created a major disturbance. They allegedly tried to pelt stones at Mudassir Zafar Khosa, who is Superintending Engineer Irrigation, Naseerabad Circle, and Executive Engineer Irrigation Drainage, and snatched his mobile phone.

Site inspected on directions of Provincial Irrigation Minister

On the directions of Provincial Minister for Irrigation Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani, Provincial Secretary Irrigation Sohail ur Rehman Baloch and Naseerabad Division Commissioner Salahuddin Nurzai, Mudassir Zafar Khosa, along with Sohbatpur Assistant Commissioner Saifuddin Khosa, inspected the work under way on the disputed Jacobabad Sum drain. DSP Abdul Hameed Thaheem and police personnel were also present.

During this, angry elements from Sindh allegedly issued threats and announced that the construction work would continue.

Taking a firm stand, Mudassir Zafar Khosa said the disputed Jacobabad Sum drain would not be allowed under any circumstances to be merged into Balochistan’s main Hairdin drainage system. He said that no one would be allowed to usurp the rights of Balochistan’s Districts through bullying, threats and force. He added that Sindh Irrigation would not be allowed to continue construction work even one inch inside Balochistan’s limits without inter-provincial approval.

Photo: courtesy DGPR Balochistan