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 criticized 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. He accused the PPP of betraying Sindh’s resources, saying that the people and history of Sindh would never forgive this duplicity. He emphasized that if the people and political parties from Karachi to Kashmore unite, they can bury every such plan.
He added, ‘Sindh, despite being rich in oil, gas, coal, agriculture, and other natural resources, is suffering from hunger, poverty, inflation, insecurity, and lawlessness. The JI Sindh leader said that the rulers are looting Sindh’s resources, but there is no one to heal the wounds of Sindh’s people. Water is life, a gift from God, and essential for all living beings. The majority of Sindh’s population depends on agriculture for livelihood, and its prosperity and development are linked to water.”
Kashif said: “Due to water shortages and not receiving the rightful share under the 1991 IRSA agreement, Sindh’s agriculture is being destroyed, and lands are becoming barren. Jamaat-e-Islami will not only protest on the streets against the construction of canals, the auctioning of Sindh’s precious lands, and federal injustices but also fight a constitutional and legal battle.’
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.
He warned that such actions would lead to not just chaos but also national security issues. Shah emphasized the need for public awareness to save millions of lives.
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. He declared that the construction of new canals on the Indus was a red line for Sindh’s people and would destroy both its lands and culture.
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 Jamaat-e-Islami’s efforts against the plan to build six new canals on Indus River.