Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday urges lawyers and opposition parties staging a sit-in against the proposed Cholistan canals project to avoid inconveniencing the public by blocking highways.
The contentious project’s critics claim it would reduce the water allocated for Sindh. The government, however, maintains it would utilize Punjab’s share and would not impact Sindh’s allocation. The issue had galvanized Sindhi nationalist parties, forcing the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to support their opposition to the project to protect its stronghold in Sindh. Last week, the federal government agreed to initiate talks with the Sindh government on the project though PPP leaders maintain the only way forward is to scrap the project, with any discussions little more than an afterthought.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Shah maintained the PPP supported the protests against the canals, but could not justify the suffering they are causing to the public. “Protesting by blocking roads and causing pain to your own people of Sindh—how is this a protest?” he questioned, suggesting that rather than blocking the M-9 motorway, the protesters could gather on the side to project their strength.
He noted the ongoing protests had troubled ambulances, adding cattle owners were also immensely troubled as their livestock—ahead of Eidul Azha—was stuck en route.
Asserting that the PPP had “led” the protests against the canals project, he emphasized that no work had taken place on the project since July 2024 thanks to efforts of the provincial government. He noted the nationalist parties had not commenced their protests until September 2024.
“They [Punjab] created this misunderstanding by showing the pointless inauguration, which was not even an inauguration,” he claimed, referring to a ceremony presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir in February.
Appreciating the federal government for suspending the project, he questioned why they had not cancelled it outright. “We want that the project’s termination be announced at the earliest,” he said, maintaining it did not benefit either Sindh or the country.
Committee formed
Amidst the ongoing controversy, the federal government has decided to form a high-level negotiation committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to address concerns regarding the canals project. The committee would seek a political solution to the objections surrounding the canal project.