Speakers decry anti-people decisions for Sindh

Save Indus River Movement, JUI-F stage anti-canal rallies

HYDERABAD:

The Save the Indus River Movement, which comprises 10 political and nationalist parties, has asked the public to become prepared for a 'big struggle' against the six canals project.

The movement's leaders, which organised a rally from Benazirabad to Hyderabad on Saturday, while speaking at the rally's conclusion at Hyder Chowk in Hyderabad said the people should not expect support for their contention against the canals from the parliament, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and even the court.

"The enemies of Sindh and the establishment are worried watching daily protests across the province," said Syed Zain Shah, the movement's convener and leader of Sindh United Party (SUP).

Blaming the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for coining the project and the Green Pakistan Initiative, he said both SIFC and the initiative are against "the fundamental concept of the federation in Pakistan." The center will have to tell if Sindh and its coastal areas are part of Pakistan or not.

Shah asserted that the country is already dealing with severe water shortage which leaves no room for new canals on the river. He cautioned the government that the situation in Balochistan is far from satisfactory while anti-people decisions are being imposed on Sindh.

"Even if the parliament and the CCI now sanction the canals' project, the people of Sindh will remain up in arms and won't allow you to build the canals," he warned the federal government.

General Secretary of Grand Democratic Alliance Dr Safdar Abbassi said the war against canals will not diffuse because of Pakistan Peoples Party's fake stance. "Whatever political consequences may emerge, we won't let anyone occupy Sindh's resources and water."

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh blamed President Asif Ali Zardari for bartering Sindh's resources under the garb of his slogan 'Pakistan khappay'. He alleged that Zardari's and his cabal of politicians have themselves plundered Sindh for the last 17 years while ruling the province.

"The people of Karachi should realise that they get water from the Indus. If the river's water is stopped, people of Karachi and Hyderabad and their children will face thirst." He claimed that former President Dr Arif Alvi had rejected the same canals' project when it was submitted to his office but President Zardari signed the same plan. "Now who is a traitor?" Sheikh asked.

Separately, Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl also organised protest rallies at the Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri barrages in Kashmore, Sukkur and Jamshoro districts on Sunday. The party's provincial leadership led the rallies, starting from Guddu and culminating in the evening at Kotri.

Addressing the rally, provincial General Secretary Allama Rashid Mehmood Soomro said weaker provinces meant weaker federation. He claimed that Sindh is already getting 45% less water against its 1991 Water Accord entitled share. Commenting on President Zardari's slogan Pakistan khappay, he contended that 99% of Sindhi nationalist leaders, Pir Pagara of GDA and even JUI-F are patriotic Pakistanis.

"We stand with this country and its constitution." He also referred to the turmoil in KPK and Balochistan and said unrest is starting to engulf Sindh as well against the canals. Soomro said as per Shariah, the constitution and the global laws, the lower riparian have the first right on the rivers in view of which no one can deny the right of Sindh on the Indus. He advised the government not to push the people of Sindh towards rebellion.