Land, Water Issue: Protest Rallies Continue

Awami Tehreek organizes a protest rally in Daharki town of Sindh against the corporate farming, six controversial canals, and artificial water scarcity

Daharki, Sindh

Awami Tehreek organized a protest rally in Daharki town of Ghotki district of Sindh on May 2, 2025 against the corporate farming, six canals, artificial water scarcity, and the reign of bandits.

The rally was led by Awami Tehreek’s Central President Advocate Vasand Thari, Central Senior Vice President Noor Ahmed Katiyar, Advocate Sachal Bhutto, Advocate Sarwan Jatoi, and leaders of the Sindhyani Tehreek Shamshad Bappar, Paras Bhutto, Rehana Baloch, Seema Kalhoro, and Sorath Bhatt. Also present were Awami Tehreek Ghotki District leaders Ustad Jamal Bhutto, Mashooq Chachar, Saddam Oghahi, Vasand, and others.

Speaking at the sit-in in front of the press club, Advocate Vasand Thari, Noor Ahmed Katiyar, Sachal Bhatti, Sarwan Jatoi, Shamshad Bappar, and others said that the rulers of Punjab have blocked Sindh’s water. They stated that despite a large volume of water available in the Indus system, Sindh’s water has been stopped. Flood canals from Punjab, including TP and CJ Link Canals and other flood channels, have been opened. “By looting Sindh’s share of water, the once fertile Sindh has been turned barren,” they lamented.

They argued that Sindh is not even receiving water under the 1991 water accord. The PPP is staging a drama in the CCI (Council of Common Interests) to sell out the Indus River. The CCI is dominated by Punjab and is a unilateral, anti-federation, and anti-nation institution. The people of Sindh will trample on every anti-Sindh decision made by the CCI.

The leaders stated that the issue of Sindh’s water remains unresolved, and for over a century and a half, Punjab’s rulers have been looting Sindh’s water—Sindh will hold them accountable. They declared that as long as there is sand in the riverbed, their struggle will continue.

They further stated that millions of acres of Sindh’s land are being handed over to corporations. If the PPP does not cancel the lease of 52,713 acres, the consequences will be worse than what happened during the anti-canal movement. The people of Sindh will continue their peaceful democratic struggle to protect their land and river until the last drop of their blood.

The leaders also alleged that districts like Ghotki, Kandhkot, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, and Sukkur have been deliberately handed over to bandits. The riverine area has been turned into a market for the sale of NATO weapons. Police and elected representatives are acting as patrons of these bandits.

Read: PPP accused of selling the Indus River

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