ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/KARACHI, Apr 20, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif have
instructed their party personnel to get involved in discussions with the
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and address the rising water dispute and
canals issue.
This instruction has been given over the rising tensions regarding water
distribution and canal projects.
Meanwhile, the federal and Sindh governments have agreed to hold talks
on the six canals project on the Indus River.
The development came after the first formal contact between the two
governments, as Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah telephoned
Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.
During the call, Rana Sanaullah assured Memon that the federal
government is ready to engage in negotiations with Sindh over the
matter.
The Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs highlighted respect
for the PPP control and leadership. He also stressed the significance of
sorting the issue through discussion. “The Prime Minister and Nawaz
Sharif have called for a resolution through talks,” he stated, urging
against politicising the canal projects and water dispute.
Rana Sanaullah emphasised the necessity for responsible statements from
those holding legitimate positions and encouraged resolving matters
through dialogue.
He declared that the 1991 inter-provincial agreement and the 1992 IRSA
Act confirm justice and stop any province from receiving water allocated
to another. “There are constitutional procedures and laws in place to
ensure this,” he stated regarding the water dispute.
In response, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon asked the PM
Shehbaz Sharif to announce the withdrawal of the canal projects.
Sharjeel Memon mentioned that PPP is ready for discussions, citing
Bilawal Bhutto’s statement at a Hyderabad rally, where he offered to
discuss the 50-year water distribution policy.
Memon noted that the entire province of Sindh is protesting against the
canal projects.
The 1991 Water Apportionment Accord is a significant agreement that
controls the distribution of water from the Indus River across all
provinces of Pakistan.
The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has the accountability of
applying this water accordingly and addressing any disputes that arise
in connection with it.
The canal projects in question are likely those that Sindh views as
harmful to its water supply.y.
Earlier, PPP leader Shazia Marri condemned the contentious canal project
of the federal government, calling it an irresponsible decision when
severe water crises had already impacted Sindh and Balochistan.
Shazia Marri reiterated the PPP’s strong disagreement with the
initiative, reminding that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari delivered
a severe warning to federal personnel regarding this controversial
proposal.
Meanwhile, sit-in protests and shutter-down strikes were continued in
different cities of the Sindh on the third day against the six
controversial canals issue on Sunday.
A complete shutdown strike was held in Larkana city on the call of the
Nationalist Party against the plan to build new canals on the Indus
River.
All business centres, including Shahi Bazaar, Pakistan Chowk, and Resham
Gali, closed due to the strike. Strikes in small and big cities,
including Ratodero, Baqrani, Dokri, and Bada, continued.
Further, the shutter-down strike also held in Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo,
and other cities. Citizens demanded that canals’ decision should be
withdrawn as soon as possible, and if canals’ decision is not withdrawn
as soon as possible, a shutdown will be done across Sindh.
Moreover, the protest on the Babrloi bypass in Khairpur against six
canals enters its third day, and the protest continued. Long queues of
vehicles are formed due to the protest, and thousands of vehicles have
been stranded due to the protest.
A large number of people participated in the protest. On the other hand,
the Indus River Save Movement’s sit-in against a new canal project on
M-9 Motorway in Hyderabad was called off after four and a half hours,
and traffic on both sides was restored.
Workers of GDA, PTI, SUP, Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Functional League, and
other parties participated in the sit-in. Moreover, the 3-day sit-in
against the extraction of 6 controversial canals from the Indus River in
Kashmore has ended.
The lawyers’ community has announced it will end the sit-in and set up a
sit-in on the Shikarpur Indus Highway. After the lawyers’ announcement
to end the sit-in, the road was opened for traffic.
The lawyers’ community’s sit-in against the canal from the Indus River
was led by Sindh Bar Council member Advocate Abdul Ghani Bijarani. Due
to the 3-day sit-in, traffic to and from Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan
was completely stopped.