Latest news with #anti-Sindh
Express Tribune
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Canals: PPP announces protests in Sindh
The Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh on Friday announced to launch a movement against the controversial Indus canals projects and called protest rallies in all district headquarters across the province on Tuesday, March 25. PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, while speaking at a press conference with Waqar Mehdi and Ajiz Dhamrah, at the Sindh Assembly, criticised the "dictatorial federal government" warning that the PPP protests would force the Centre to abandon the canals projects. "The PPP will take out rallies and protest demonstrations in all district headquarters of Sindh on March 25 against the controversial six canal project. I appeal to the people of Sindh to come together and fight together against these canals," Khuhro said. "I salute the people protesting against the canals project and we and support their struggle. We will contact all political and nationalists parties in connection with the protest movement, so that we can end this anti-Sindh project through a joint struggle," he added. Khuhro regretted that certain political parties in Sindh criticised the PPP, but they never brought out rallies against the canals project. The canals project is more dangerous than the Kalabagh Dam, it will turn Sindh barren." The PPP, as well as many other nationalist parties are opposing the construction of six new canals from the Indus. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had been openly speaking against this "unilateral decision" of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government. Also, President Asif Zardari in his address to the joint session of parliament earlier this month minced no words in cautioning the federal government against its unilateral decision to carve out new canals from the Indus river system, saying the project should be 'abandoned' as he would not support it. The controversy had erupted over a federal government plan to dig six new canals to irrigate barren lands in Punjab's Cholistan area under the Green Pakistan Initiative. The PPP, which governs Sindh, says that the decision has been taken unilaterally and that it would harm the province's agriculture. Khuhro told the press conference that by starting the construction of the Cholistan Canal without the approval of any constitutional forum, the federal government had revived the memory of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf, who built the controversial Thal Canal through an executive order. "Now the federal government of the PML-N is playing an authoritarian role," he said, adding that the Punjab government has unconstitutionally allocated budget for the Cholistan Canal," he said. "The PPP will fight against the canals project at all constitutional forums, as well as in the streets," he added. "The PPP will not allow anyone to construct even a single canal from the Indus River. Just as the previous PML-N government had to withdraw from the Kalabagh Dam, the current PML-N government will have to withdraw from these six canal projects," Khuhro added. In response to a question about the PPP being part of the ruling coalition, Khuhro stated that there were demands of the PPP to leave but the fact was that the party was not part of the federal government. He also warned against a conspiracy of forming a national government.
Express Tribune
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Sindh farmers stage rally against new canals
Listen to article The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) organised a rally from the old campus of the University of Sindh to the Hyderabad Press Club to protest against the construction of six new canals on Indus River and corporate farming. Led by SCA President Syed Zainul Abedin Shah and General Secretary Zahid Bhurgri, the rally participants demanded that the federal government immediately issue a notification to halt the execution of canal projects, including the Cholistan canal, and the Green Pakistan Initiative, which were threatening the unity of the federation. They praised the Sindh government for passing a resolution in the provincial assembly against the "anti-Sindh" canals and for standing with the people of Sindh. In his speech at the press club where a large number of farmers had gathered, the SCA president stressed that for thousands of years, the Indus River had been a source of civilisation, existence, survival and livelihood. "The five million people of Sindh consider the Cholistan canal and other such canal projects as a threat to their existence. This is because the country's reservoirs do not have enough water to sustain additional canals," he said. Shah pointed out that Pakistan was a federation comprising people of distinct historical and cultural identities. "Therefore, before taking any hasty steps, the federal government must ensure that all constitutional, legal, fundamental, human, democratic and ethical values are respected. Any decisions regarding water reservoirs must be made transparently while considering accurate data and consulting all national stakeholders." As the Kharif sowing season begins, the depletion of water in the country's two major reservoirs, Mangla and Tarbela, has created a drought-like situation in Sindh. "This is the warning sign of a major crisis."
Express Tribune
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Women's rally calls for protection of Sindh's rights
Women from all walks of life unite to raise their voices against injustice and fight for their rights. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS Working-class women held a rally to raise their voices against anti-people policies and for the protection of Sindh's rights. The rally, which began at the Youth Auditorium and ended at the Arts Council of Pakistan, drew large numbers of women, men, farmers and members of the transgender community from various regions. The rally was led by Zehra Khan, General Secretary of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation, who chanted slogans against anti-Sindh water projects, land grabbing, and food crises. Speaking on the occasion, Zahra Khan said that Sindh's civilisation is on the brink of destruction due to government policies, mentioning that issues such as climate change, floods, water resource exploitation, and the destruction of the Indus Delta threaten the lives and lands of millions of people in Sindh. She further stated that these problems have forced millions of people in Sindh to migrate. The problem has also reduced crop yields, and triggered a food crisis. She appealed to progressive groups and forces in Punjab to raise their voices against their rulers in support of Sindh's rights and to stand together for Sindh's survival by resolving the issue of canals. A large number of peasant farmers also joined the rally and expressed their support for Sindh's rights and condemned the canal policy of Punjab rulers. Women empowerment govt's top priority Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has stressed that International Women's Day symbolises the ongoing struggle for equality, rights, and justice. In his message on the occasion, he paid tribute to the women of Sindh - mothers, sisters, and daughters - while reaffirming the provincial government's unwavering commitment to their empowerment across various sectors. The chief minister highlighted that societal progress is unattainable without active female participation. The CM reiterated that ensuring equal opportunities for women in education and healthcare remains a top priority for the PPP-led government. He acknowledged the pivotal role Pakistani women have played in national development and the democratic movement, recognising the historic contributions of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as enduring symbols of resilience and leadership. Projects especially for women Sindh Senior Minister, Sharjeel Inam Memon, has said that women deserve all praise for playing a vital role in the development, stability, and prosperity of the country. Under the historic policy of distributing land to landless farmers, women farmers are also being given land to become economically independent, the senior minister said. He further mentioned that the Pink Bus Service has been launched to allow women to continue with their daily activities without any fear. Moreover, providing free EV scooters to deserving and hardworking women is also part of PPP government's historic programme.
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
JI conference dismisses six new canals' plan
HYDERABAD: A water conference, hosted by Jamaat-e-Islami Sindh and presided over by provincial Ameer Kashif Saeed Shaikh, was held at a local hotel in Hyderabad today. The conference was attended by leaders of political, religious, and nationalist parties. The participants rejected the federal government's plan to construct six new canals on the Indus River, calling it illegal, a violation of the IRSA Act, and a conspiracy to turn Sindh barren. They criticised the dual standards of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and warned that if the party failed to pass resolutions against such anti-Sindh projects in the Sindh Assembly, National Assembly, and Senate, all political parties would jointly besiege the Chief Minister's House. In his presidential address, Jamaat-e-Islami Sindh Ameer Kashif Saeed Shaikh alleged that, as in the past, the PPP is facilitating the federal government and institutions in building these canals. Sindh United Party leader Syed Zain Shah dismissed the federal government's data on water as fake and deceitful. He highlighted that the people in Hyderabad and Karachi were struggling even for drinking water. Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party Chairman Dr Qadir Magsi said water is a basic necessity of life, and the Indus River is Sindh's lifeline. He said: "If new canals are constructed, Sindh will turn into a collective graveyard." He criticized Punjab's bureaucracy for always devising plans to loot Sindh's water. He urged political parties and farmers to continue the struggle against the plan of six canals. Pakistan Muslim League-Functional Sindh Secretary General Sardar Abdul Rahim stated that Pir Pagara was prepared to go to any extent to protect Sindh's water. Sindh Abadgar Board leader Seyed Nadeem Shah Jamot accused Punjab of planning to cultivate its barren lands at the cost of turning seven million acres of Sindh's land barren. PTI leader Khawand Bux Jahejo acknowledged that water is a serious issue for Sindh and assured full support to JI's efforts against the plan to build six new canals on Indus River.
