The Sindh High Court has issued a stay order against the water availability certificate issued by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) for the construction of canals, including Cholistan and Thal, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday.
According to the report, a petition was filed in the court challenging both the structure of IRSA and the issuance of the water certificate.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that IRSA was illegally formed as no federal member had been appointed from Sindh, rendering all of its decisions unlawful, including the water certificate issued on January 25.
The federal government requested more time to submit a response, after which the court ordered a detailed reply by April 18. Sindh’s Advocate General emphasised that under the stay order, all canal construction must cease immediately.
Later, PPP lawyer Barrister Zamir Ghumro held a press conference in Karachi, confirming that the Sindh High Court had blocked IRSA's certificate and halted any work related to the canals. He said that although the matter had been referred to ECNEC, it was never approved, making construction illegal.
Barrister Ghumro further stated that the people of Sindh had been protesting this issue, fearing the construction of these canals. “This stay order is a clear legal victory for Sindh,” he concluded.
Reporter: Mumtaz Jamali