Mirpurkhas: The Sindh United Party (SUP) staged a protest rally in Mirpurkhas against the proposed construction of new canals, including the New Jalalpur Canal, and what it described as encroachment on Sindh’s water share from the Indus River.
The rally, organised by the party’s Mirpurkhas district chapter, began at the State Life Building and concluded at the Mirpurkhas Press Club, where participants held a demonstration.
A large number of party leaders, workers, lawyers, farmers, students, and members of civil society took part in the protest.
Addressing the gathering, SUP divisional president Ameer Ali Thebo, along with Muhammad Khan Marri, Lala Azhar Pathan, Sameer Laghari, Ubaid Banglani, Wajid Laghari, Mustafa Jamal Shar, Nadir Shar, Ali Gul Rand, Advocate Zulfiqar Khaskheli, Azeem Khaskheli, and representatives of other nationalist organisations, said Sindh was already facing a severe water shortage.
The speakers argued that constructing additional canals from the Indus River would further damage Sindh’s agriculture, economy, environment, and the livelihoods of millions of people.
They claimed that declining water availability was turning agricultural land barren and accelerating environmental degradation in the Indus Delta and coastal areas.
The protesters also alleged that Punjab was attempting to secure a greater share of Sindh’s water resources through the proposed canal projects. They criticised the release of water into the Jalalpur Canal, describing it as detrimental to Sindh’s interests, and claimed that previously constructed flood canals were now drawing water throughout the year.
The party leaders further accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of failing to defend Sindh’s interests at the federal level for political reasons.
They also criticised President Asif Ali Zardari, alleging that he had approved the Cholistan Canal Project, and claimed that the Sindh government had contributed more than Rs500 billion from its share towards the project.
The speakers also referred to statements attributed to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, alleging that budget allocations had been made for the Chenab Dam, and claimed that water stored there would eventually be diverted to the Cholistan canal system.
The Sindh United Party demanded:
- The permanent cancellation of all proposed new canals on the Indus River.
- Full implementation of the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord and constitutional provisions guaranteeing Sindh’s share of water.
- Protection of Sindh’s water rights and an end to what the party described as unfair treatment of the province.
At the conclusion of the demonstration, party leaders warned that if the proposed canal projects were not abandoned, the SUP would intensify its democratic protest campaign alongside the public across Sindh.
The allegations and political claims in this report reflect the views expressed by the protest organisers during the demonstration. No response from the federal government or the Pakistan Peoples Party was included in the statement.
About The Author
