The Sindh government on Sunday made it clear that raising the slogan of ‘Pakistan Khapey’ did not mean that there would be a compromise on the distribution of water resources, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing a presser in Sukkur, Spokesman for the provincial government Barrister Arsalan Sheikh said although the government wanted prosperity in Cholistan, but not at the cost of Sindh’s share in the River Indus water. “Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has already lodged a complaint with the CCIA. And if the issue is not resolved, the government reserves the right to either move a court or go to the masses,” he added.
Barrister Sheikh said that the PPP, with the support of all political parties, got an amendment passed against the IRSA Act.
The spokesman went on to say that if new canals were built in Cholistan on the basis of the distribution of Punjab’s share in water resources, the Sindh government had no objection to it.
He repudiated reports doing rounds on social media that President Asif Ali Zardari had greenlighted the distribution of Sindh’s share.
He said that the PPP government in the province launched the Thar Coal project in the desert area.
“We appreciate the Punjab government’s plan to produce artificial rain in Lahore.”
Sindh Darya Bachao Tehreek takes out rally
On the other hand, Sindh Darya Bachao Tehreek took out a rally from Jinnah Park to the press club at Umarkot against the government's plan to carve out six canals from the River Indus.
PTI leader Lekhraj Malhi, Functional League leader Faqir Ghulam Nabi Mangryo and Maulana Yousaf.
Speaking on the occasion, the speakers said already there was a shortage of water in Sindh, and now the government wants to carve out six canals.
If that was allowed to happen, they went on to say, the province's agricultural lands would turn barren, making it extremely difficult for the locals to earn their living. The river is a lifeline for the farmers, and any plan to carve out canals would be met with fierce resistance.
Sindhiyani Tehreek marches in Karachi
In order to register their protest against the government's plan, leaders and workers of Sindhiyani Tehreek, too, took out a rally from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club.
Reporters: Amin Diplai and Shoaib Mukhtar