Under the banner of Sindh Sujag Baar Tehreek, children take out rallies on International Water Day, against the exploitation of Indus River
Hyderabad, Sindh
On the occasion of World Water Day, hundreds of children took to the streets in protest across various cities of Sindh, including Hyderabad, Malir Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Jhudo, Digri, Mithi, Islamkot, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Shahdadpur, Moro, Wahi Pandhi, and Larkana. The rallies, organized under the banner of Sujag Baar Tehreek (Awakened Children’s Movement), voiced strong opposition to the extraction of six new canals from the Indus River and corporate farming.
City-wise Protest Details
Hyderabad: A rally from Old Campus to the Press Club was led by Sujag Baar Tehreek Central President Fazil Khosa, Hyderabad District Organizer Sarmad Saeendad Khasakheli, Shoaib Bhutto, Azad Memon, Sohan Palejo, Amjad Talpur, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Ranto, and others.
Malir (Karachi): District President Bhura Lal, Central Senior Vice President Zohaib Kalmati, Shahzaib Mirani, and Anmol Memon led a rally from L. Civil to Sindhu Chowk, Gulshan-e-Hadeed.
Thatta: District President Hameed Khushk, Malik Chandio, Shakir Baloch, and Fazil Lashari led a protest from Dubai Store to Makli Park.
Tando Bago: Central General Secretary Amar Jalil Halepoto, along with Rehana Halepoto, Sameer Halepoto, and Somal Halepoto, led a rally from the CNG pump to Tando Bago Press Club.
Jhudo: Mirpurkhas District President Noor Aftab Kaloi, Mehran Kaloi, and Qadeer Talpur led a march from Awami Nagar Paro to the Old National Bank.
Digri: Local leaders Adi Saqafat Jarwar and Jara Jarwar led a rally to record their protest.
Islamkot: District President Dilip Kumar Bheel, Lakhmi Chand, and Atam Bheel led a march from Al-Dubai Hotel to Islamkot Press Club.
Tando Allahyar: A protest was held in Bheel Colony under the leadership of Shayan Samejo.
Shahdadpur: District Organizer Ramesh Bheel, Alam Sariwal, and Alam Laghari led a rally from Cafe Kamran to Shahdadpur Press Club.
Tando Muhammad Khan: District Organizer Danish Meghwar and Rajesh Gawaro led a protest from Sujawal Chowk to Tando Muhammad Khan Press Club.
Moro: Tehsil Organizer Fareed Solangi, Ateeq Kalhoro, Comrade Nisha Solangi, and Sonhan Solangi led a rally from Moro Petrol Pump to Moro Press Club.
Wahi Pandhi: The rally was led by Waheed Ali Brohi, Panhal Brahmani, and Shazman Brahmani from Village Dodo Brahmani to Gorakh Chowk.
Larkana: District leader Comrade Kol Kalhoro, Ather Kalhoro, and Tabassum Kalhoro led the march from Rahil Chowk to Larkana Press Club.
Demands
The protestors raised passionate slogans such as “All canals are unacceptable!” and condemned the continuous exploitation of Sindh’s water resources for the past 150 years. They highlighted that the Indus Delta has been destroyed and the river is drying up, directly impacting millions of people who rely on it for their survival.
Leaders of Sujag Baar Tehreek accused the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of betraying Sindh by selling its water resources for political power. They alleged that PPP is complicit with Punjab in looting Sindh’s share of water.
They also condemned the destruction of mangrove forests and riverbank woodlands, calling it environmental hostility. The construction of six new canals, they stated, is a “diabolical conspiracy of genocide” against Sindh’s 70 million people.
The Sujag Baar Tehreek reaffirmed that Sindhi children are integral to the ongoing struggle for water rights and environmental justice. They vowed to continue the resistance and hold accountable those responsible for depriving Sindh of its fair share of water.
Additionally, speakers criticized the systematic encroachment on Sindh’s resources since the creation of Pakistan. They condemned fraudulent schemes such as Paada Paalyo (Cattle Farming), which facilitated the settlement of outsiders on Sindh’s land, as well as the expansion of housing schemes like Bahria Town, DHA, and Commander City, which they claim have resulted in the occupation of Kohistan’s land.
Furthermore, under the guise of an Agricultural Revolution, millions of acres of Sindh’s fertile lands have been handed over to imperialist corporate entities, endangering the future of local communities and their livelihoods.
The Sujag Baar Tehreek demands an immediate halt to all illegal canal projects, restoration of the Indus River, and a transparent water distribution system that respects Sindh’s historical and legal rights.
Read: No Dam or Canal on Indus River Accepted
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