Hunger strike was observed in Karachi and all the divisional headquarters to protest against IRSA Act, grabbing lands under corporate faring project and extrajudicial Killings in Sindh
- Awami Tahreek calls upon the people of the province to unite for launching a decisive movement against anti-Sindh plans
Karachi, Sindh
A number of leaders and workers of Awami Tahreek and its women and students’ wings observed token hunger strike outside Karachi Press Club and in all the divisional headquarters of Sindh on Sunday September 22, 2024, to mobilize the people of Sindh against the controversial IRSA Act amendment, land grabbing in the name of corporate farming, and extrajudicial killings.
Leaders of Awami Tahreek, Sindhiyani Tahreek, Sindhi Shagrid Tahreek , including Advocate Vasand Thari, Noor Katiyaar, Hoor ul Nisa Palijo, Advocate Abdullah Bapar, Pirah Soomro, Advocate Khalid Tunio, Naveed Kalhoro, and others, condemned these government actions as direct assaults on Sindh’s sovereignty and fundamental rights.
The protesters rejected the illegal IRSA Act amendment, which okays the construction of 30 new dams, including the Kalabagh Dam, sparking fears of threat to Sindh’s water share.
Awami Tahreek denounced this amendment as a violation of both regional water agreements and international law. They accused Punjab of exploiting its upper-riparian status to divert water from the Indus River, depriving Sindh’s agricultural lands of its lifeblood.
“There’s a conspiracy to usurp Sindh’s water rights under the guise of development,” declared Vasand Thari. “We reject any dam or canal, including the Kalabagh Dam that threatens our people’s livelihoods.”
Sindh, already ravaged by chronic water shortages, is witnessing the rapid destruction of the Indus Delta. The unchecked seawater intrusion is obliterating farmlands, altering ecosystems, and endangering communities. Awami Tahreek called for the immediate release of at least 10 million acre-feet water downstream Kotri Barrage, as per agreements, and lamented the government’s failure to act.
The IRSA Act amendments signal plans to divert more water from the Indus, with little regard for Sindh’s needs. “This is an assault on our very existence,” warned Sajid Hussain Mahesar. “The people of Sindh will not stay silent. If these amendments are not reversed, we will force the government through mass protests.”
Read: Amendment in Indus River System Authority Act: Save Sindh from Ruination
Awami Tahreek also shed light on the extrajudicial killing of Dr. Shah Nawaz, a case that has ignited public outrage across Sindh. They decried the rise of police brutality and unchecked lawlessness, demanding immediate intervention from the judiciary. “We will not allow Sindh’s citizens to be executed without due process,” stated Awami Tahreek leaders, calling for FIRs against those responsible for the killing.
The protesters also condemned the land seizures under the so-called “Green Pakistan” initiative. Thousands of acres of Sindh’s farmland have been handed over to foreign corporations under the pretext of corporate farming. Awami Tahreek called this a modern-day colonial strategy designed to displace local farmers and enrich a political elite. “These agreements threaten not only our economy but also our food security,” warned Ranto.
The corporate farming model threatens to dismantle traditional farming practices, driving small farmers off their ancestral lands. Awami Tahreek leaders asserted that these land acquisitions only serve to deepen existing economic inequalities and strip local communities of their resources.
Awami Tahreek’s hunger strike has galvanized public opinion across Sindh, as the party vowed to continue its resistance against the systemic theft of Sindh’s water, land, and human rights. “We will not accept the IRSA Act amendments, corporate land grabs, or extrajudicial killings,” declared the leadership in a final statement, calling on all Sindhis to unite against these injustices.
The movement’s demands are clear: immediate repeal of the IRSA Act amendments, legal action against those involved in extrajudicial killings, and a halt to corporate farming agreements that undermine Sindh’s sovereignty. Awami Tahreek’s fight, they emphasized, is not just a call for reform but a battle for survival, dignity, and justice for the people of Sindh. (PR)
Read – Death Anniversary of Rasool Bux Palijo: Awami Tehreek rejects Digital Census Results
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