Protest in Tando Adam Against Canals on Indus River
Sanghar (Hasnain Ashiq Saand) On the occasion of World Rivers Day, various political, social, and nationalist parties staged a protest rally in Tando Adam against the alleged encroachment on the Indus River and the construction of six new canals. The rally started from Muhammadi Chowk and concluded at the Press Club, where a large number of citizens, activists, and intellectuals participated.
Protesters carried banners and placards with slogans such as “No to Canals on Indus” and “Reject Encroachment on the Indus River.”
Leaders from different parties addressed the gathering, including Allahdad Mari, Azad Khumbhar, and Shabbir Korejo from Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Sarwar Abro, Baghi Mujajid Thaheem, Shafi Muhammad Saand from Sindh United Party (SUP),Notable literary and social figures such as Noor Chakrani from the Sindhi Adabi Sangat, Ikhlaq Waryah, Gul Hassan Lakho, Sajid Chakrani, and Mansoor Bijoro, Political leaders like PTI’s Faiz Muhammad Dero, GDA’s Dr. Qamber Mari, and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Abdul Ghafoor Ansari, Medical and professional representatives included Dr. Basheer Khaskheli from the Pakistan Medical Association, along with Mithal Pinjaro. SUPLA leaders Professor Yaad Hussain Shaikh, Zulfiqar Ali Jatoi, and Professor Sikandar Malookani, Ghulam Qadir Bhacho from Sindh Graduates Association, Bar Council advocates Altaf Junejo, Ashraf Ali Panhwar, Attaullah Rind, and Rashid Ali Khan. Leaders from minority communities, such as Madho Chauhan from the Pakistan Meghwar Ittehad and Dr. Amarshi Kachhi from the All Pakistan Kachhi Ittehad, Mustaqeem Qasim from Market Committee Hyderabad Road, also lent their voices to the protest and several other prominent figures from various organizations.
The speakers highlighted that on a day when the world is celebrating the significance of rivers, the people of Sindh are compelled to protest against what they termed as an unjust act of constructing six canals on the Indus River. They warned that such canals would severely impact Sindh’s agricultural lands, potentially turning fertile areas into barren deserts.
The protesters stated that if these projects proceed, they would resist through intensified movements, extending their protest to Islamabad and raising the issue at international forums, including the global court.
The speakers urged the authorities to halt the canal construction immediately, emphasizing that encroachment on Sindh’s water resources would not be tolerated. They stressed that safeguarding the Indus River is vital for the livelihood and survival of Sindh’s people.
