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Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr. Leads Protest Against New Indus River Canals in Sindh

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr. and PPP Shaheed Bhutto supporters protested in Jamshoro against 6 new canals from the Indus River, calling the project a threat to Sindh’s lifeline.
ND
by News Desk
2025-01-06
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr. Leads Protest Against New Indus River Canals in Sindh

A massive protest against the construction of six new canals from the Indus River was organized in Jamshoro, led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr., son of Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto. The protest, called by PPP Shaheed Bhutto, saw participation from hundreds of supporters, including women and children, from across Sindh.

The demonstration took place at Al-Munzar Jamshoro, where protesters expressed their discontent with what they described as a conspiracy to dry up Sindh downstream of the Indus River. They offered flowers to the river in a symbolic gesture of reverence and solidarity.

Protest Demands

Protesters, including prominent party leaders like Majeed Sial, Inayat Umrani, Faqir Imdad Hesbani, and others, condemned:

  • The construction of new canals from the Indus River.
  • The destruction of the Indus River's ecosystem.
  • The failure to halt the project despite ongoing protests.
  • The allocation of Sindh's lands to foreigners.

They demanded an immediate withdrawal of the canal project and the return of Sindh's lands to local communities.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr.'s Speech

Addressing the crowd, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr. called the Indus River Sindh’s lifeline and criticized the government’s decision to divert its waters.

"God has connected the Indus River and the sea. What is this government doing to end the Indus River? Are they more powerful than God?" he questioned. Bhutto Jr. accused the rulers of attempting to destroy Sindh to develop 4 million acres of Cholistan land, calling it a life-and-death matter for Sindhi people.

He emphasized the importance of unity in resisting the government’s "anti-Sindh and anti-nature" decisions, vowing that the Indus River would continue to flow to the sea as long as the people of Sindh exist.

Protest Details

The protest featured strong participation from rural and urban Sindh, with large numbers of women and children joining the sit-in. Speakers highlighted the ecological and social damage that could result from diverting Indus River water and urged the government to prioritize Sindh's rights and sustainability.

Background

The construction of six new canals from the Indus River has been met with widespread resistance from Sindhi activists and political groups. They argue that such projects could dry up lower Sindh, destroy agricultural livelihoods, and disrupt the river’s natural flow to the sea, potentially harming the environment.

The protest in Jamshoro is part of a larger movement to oppose the project, which activists claim is aimed at benefiting non-Sindhi regions at the expense of Sindh’s ecological and economic survival.

 
Tagged:

EnvironmentalJustice

SindhRights

PPPProtest

SaveIndus

ZulfikarAliBhuttoJr
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