Opposition parties organize sit-in against six new Indus-river canals

KARACHI: The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) organized a sit-in protest in Karachi in opposition to the building of six new canals on the Indus River, followed by a protest rally towards the Empress Market.

Speaking to the sit-in in front of the Karachi Press Club, GDA spokesperson Sardar Abdul Rahim said the PPP has continuously depended on falsehoods and false information.

He urged Karachi residents to oppose the new canals that are being drawn from the Indus River, pointing out that Keenjhar Lake, which depends on the Indus for 85% of the city’s water, is the source.

He cautioned that if the downstream flow is not restored, Karachi will experience a serious water shortage. He urged groups that speak Urdu and others to join their Sindhi brothers in preserving the river and the city’s future, citing global warnings about Sindh’s water drying up.

According to Sardar Abdur Rahim, the country as a whole awakens when Karachi does, hence, the phrase “Canals Na Khappay” (No to Canals) ought to be sounded from Karachi.

“Not only is (Imran Khan) imprisoned, but we are all locked up – the whole country has become one big jail,” stated PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh.

The people of Sindh have woken up against the canals, he added.

Zardari had accepted the canal construction contract. He added that the court is now controversial due to the 26th Amendment to the Constitution. He underlined that Zardari holds the most influential position in the federal government.

Barrister Arshad Shar Baloch, Convener of the Functional League Karachi Zone Coordination Committee, claimed that Sindh’s lifeline is being cut off.

Aamir Nawaz Warraich, President of the Karachi Bar Council, stated that they had issued a resolution opposing the construction of illegal canals on the Indus River. These canals are entirely prohibited. If Pakistan is to be preserved, this endeavor must be discontinued.