Govt. accused of sabotaging Anti-Canal Movement

Govt. is provoking violence through various means

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Awami Tehreek leaders support Babaloe Sit-in, announce schedule of protest rallies

Hyderabad, Sindh

The Awami Tehreek leadership has accused the Sindh and Federal governments as well as the rulers of Punjab of hatching conspiracy to suppress the peaceful democratic struggle of the Sindhi people against the illegal canals and corporate farming projects.

“They want to sabotage the peaceful movement by provoking violence through various means,” the Awami Tehreek leaders said addressing a press conference here on Sunday April 20, 2025.

“The government is responsible for the life and property of every citizen. Despite being fully aware that peaceful protestors are sitting under the open sky at the highways, the Sindh government has failed to make necessary security arrangements,” Central President, Awami Tehreek, Wasand Thari and other leaders said.

They said that Chief Minister of Sindh must be held accountable for this lawlessness and the DIG Sukkur and SSP Sukkur must be immediately dismissed, and urgent security arrangements must be made for the sit-in that continues at Babarloe.

Earlier, an emergency meeting of the Central Council of Awami Tehreek was held at the residence of Rasool Bux Palijo in Qasimabad, Hyderabad. The meeting focused on the ongoing movement across Sindh against the construction of canals and corporate farming.

“For the past three days, I, along with the central leadership and members of Awami Tehreek and Sindhyani Tahreek, have continuously participated in the protest sit-in by lawyers at Babarloe Bypass. Today as well, Advocate Sajid Hussain Mahesar, Central General Secretary of Awami Tehreek, joined the sit-in along with female members of Sindhyani Tehreek and other party workers. This morning, gunfire was opened at the sit-in. This anti-Sindh, anti-state, anti-constitution, anti-law, and anti-democracy act is highly condemnable,” Wasand Thari said.

He told the media that among those participating in the protest sit-in are innocent children, girls, women, peasants, workers, members of various political and social organizations, writers, intellectuals, poets, journalists, teachers, students, traders, and farmers — none of whom are armed. All are peacefully protesting.”

“Awami Tehreek believes that corporate farming is a critical issue directly linked with the canals. Anyone who only talks about canals but not about corporate farming is hiding the truth. During the tenure of the previous PDM coalition government, the Board of Investment Amendment Bill 2023 was officially passed into law. Projects related to corporate farming, canals, SIFC, and the Green Initiative Pakistan are all part of the Board of Investment Amendment Act 2023. This law is a black law, anti-state legislation. No any patriotic, democratic individual of the country can accept it.”

“The Pakistan People’s Party and other ruling parties must stop their deceptive acts of passing so-called resolutions against canals in assemblies. Reports suggest that federal ministers Rana Sanaullah and Sharjeel Memon have held discussions on the canal issue. Awami Tehreek views PML-N and PPP as two sides of the same coin, and the public does not trust the leadership of either party. The Board of Investment Amendment Act 2023 must be immediately repealed,” he said.

It was also decided in the meeting that workers of Awami Tahreek and Sindhyani Tahreek will actively participate daily in the Bubarloe Bypass sit-in alongside the protesting lawyers.

Awami Tahreek believes that the Council of Common Interests (CCI), where Punjab has majority representation, uses this advantage to decide the fate of other provinces and plunder the resources of Sindh and other smaller provinces. The structure of the CCI should be reorganized based on equal representation.

It was also decided that protest rallies against canals and corporate farming will be held in the following areas:

April 23: Sangi Pharo, April 25: Khor Wah, April 26: Bachal Kaloi, Jhudo, April 27: Moya city, April 28: Dumbalo, Tando Ghulam Ali, April 29: Usman Shah Huri, Tando Allahyar, May 1: Nagarparkar, May 2: Daharki, May 3: Reti, May 4: Shikarpur and May 10: Larkana City. The people of Sindh are invited to participate in these protest rallies.

Furthermore, it was decided that on June 21, a big public gathering against canals and corporate farming will be held in village Mangar Khan near Jungshahi to mark the seventh death anniversary of the great revolutionary leader Rasool Bux Palijo. Patriotic political leaders, social activists, writers, intellectuals, poets, peasants, and labor leaders from all over the country will be invited. (PR)