- Sindh CM urges the demonstrators not to disturb the “possessions of people”.
- Said PPP will protest if the talks with the center remain unsuccessful.
- Will block the controversial channel project at all costs, explains CM.
The Sindh -Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah exhorted the demonstrators on Tuesday, demonstrating against the construction of new channels, to remain peaceful and not to cause people difficulty by blocking highways and the main arteries.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, CM Murad said: “Lawyers and nationalists should continue their protest without disturbing their own people.”
He said that the PPP and demonstrators share the same objective, adding that his party would also organize demonstrations if their negotiations in progress with the federal government remained unsuccessful.
In February of this year, the chief of staff of the army (COAS) Asim Munnir and the chief minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, launched the initiative of Green Pakistan in Cholistan aimed at revolutionizing agriculture and providing farmers with agricultural facilities under one roof.
The project sparked a wave of troubles across the Sindh, and the provincial assembly in March unanimously adopted a resolution against the construction of six new channels on the Industry River. Meanwhile, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and other nationalist parties went down to the street and organized massive rallies in different cities in the province, including Karachi.
In its striking meter today, the Sindh CM announced that the controversial channel project will be blocked at all costs.
“The government of the Sindh and the PPP will not allow the canal project to be built with the power of the people,” he added.
The CM argued that the work on the Canal project had stalled since July 2024, and the project approval has been underway since November of last year. He wondered why the project was not abandoned.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also aware of the serious consequences of the canal project,” he said and hoped that the Prime Minister would act with justice.
Protest in Karachi
A protest march of the Save Industres Students Alliance, supported by Karachi Bachao Tehreek and others, took place in Teen Talwar and walked in Fowara Chowk. The demonstrators were also joined by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr.
The demonstration, like many others in the province, demonstrated against the Canal project and organized a demonstration in Fowara Chowk.
One day earlier, the Prime Minister’s special assistant on political affairs Rana Sanaullah phoned the Sindh Minister of Information Sharjeel Memon for the third consecutive day to discuss the issue.
“The Prime Minister will make an appropriate decision on this subject,” said Sanaullah, while Memon stressed that “whenever the talks will take place, they will be at government level in government.”
Speaking on Tuesday on the Geo News program “Geo Pakistan”, Sanaullah assured that Sindh’s interests would not be compromised.
“(We have no intention of even stealing a drop of water from the Sindh,” he said, adding that the Pakistani peoples party (PPP) was ready for dialogue and that the federal government took the question seriously.
The minister also sought to minimize the remarks made by PPP president Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who had warned last week that his party would separate from the ruling coalition if the federal government had not responded to its serious reserves on the controversial channel project.
“What Bilawal said during the public rally was said in time to say a speech,” said Sanaullah.
He urged restraint in political discourse and reminded all parties to maintain mutual respect. “It is not necessary to react to what Bilawal said. Declarations should remain within the limits, and others must be shown to respect and dignity,” he added.
Memon echoed the position of the federal government on dialogue and reiterated the concerns of the province. “The question of the canal is a public concern,” he said, adding: “The Sindh government represents the people of the Sindh.”
Memon added that objections to the channel project had been raised on several occasions and forums. “If the federal government wants to discuss the question, it is welcome. The PPP will certainly defend the case of the people of the Sindh,” he said.
Meanwhile, the demonstrations at the Sindh on the issue continue to disrupt. Memon called on demonstrators to protest responsiblely. “Protesters have been invited to hold their demonstrations in the field, not to block the roads, ordinary people are injured,” he said.