Lawyers announce long march against new canals, PECA tweaks

The protest will begin today with a rally from the SHC to Baberlo Bypass in Sukkur where a 24-hour sit-in will be held

Listen to article

KARACHI:

Lawyer associations across Sindh have announced a long march against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River, the 26th Constitutional Amendment, and the controversial PECA Act.

The protest will begin today (April 17) with a rally from the Sindh High Court to Baberlo Bypass in Sukkur, where a 24-hour sit-in will be held.

At a joint press conference in City Court, leaders from various bar associations-including Karachi, Hyderabad, Malir, and Jamshoro-voiced grave concerns about the unchecked construction of canals, which they say will deprive Sindh of water and devastate agriculture. Karachi Bar Association President Amir Nawaz Warraich said the entire province stands against these projects, which are proceeding without consultation or consent.

Warraich warned that Sindh may soon face severe water shortages, and even basic water access may become unaffordable. In Karachi, a water tanker available for Rs6,000 will not be availabale for even Rs30,000. People must realise the gravity of the situation and rise up to protect their rights. Despite threats and attempts at intimidation, he said, the legal community remains resolute. "Our protest is peaceful, and we stand with the people," he stated.

Other leaders, including Faheem Anar (Jamshoro), Ashraf Khokhar (Hyderabad), and Ayaz Chandio (Malir), echoed similar sentiments, rejecting the 26th Amendment and the PECA Act, which they believe endanger press freedom and democracy. They also criticized corporate farming, alleging that land is being unfairly transferred and water resources are being misappropriated.

The lawyers have demanded immediate reversal of these policies and warned that protests will continue until their demands are met. All bar associations across Sindh have pledged unity and participation in the long march.

Waraich said that after the implementation of the PECA Act, freedom of expression will come to an end, and the media will be reduced to nothing more than state-run PTV. The government's only response to dissent is to shut it down. Referring to the case of a journalist arrested under the PECA Act, he added that they did not wish to pursue any further action after witnessing what happened with the session judge involved in that case.