Massive Rally in Jungshahi Demands Sindh’s Water Rights
Jungshahi/Thatta: Thousands of men and women gathered at the final resting place of Rasool Bux Palijo, paying tribute to the veteran nationalist leader and vowing to continue the struggle until Sindh secures its rightful share of water and the construction of six new canals is rejected. Organized by Awami Tahreek and Sindhyani Tahreek, the rally marched from Mangar Khan Palijo village to Jungshahi city, protesting against amendments to the IRSA Act, corporate farming, and new irrigation canals. Protesters raised slogans questioning the federal government’s priorities, demanding: “Do you want canals, or do you want Pakistan?” while calling for an end to land encroachments, cancellation of corporate farming projects, the abolition of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and the restoration of democracy.
Speakers, including Awami Tahreek’s Central Coordination Secretary Lal Jarwar, Abdul Qadir Ranto, Razaq Chandio, Shah Muhammad Chang, Mitha Khan Lashari, Ghanwar Khan Zehwar, Bilawal Lashari, Darya Khan Zehwar, Salma Lashari, Saira Razaq, Zoya Palijo, and Samina Lashari, condemned IRSA’s three-way water distribution formula as unconstitutional and accused IRSA’s technical committee of failing to revoke the NOC for the Cholistan Canal, calling it a conspiracy against Sindh. They criticized Sindh’s representative in IRSA for not demanding the cancellation of the NOC and accused the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of deliberately weakening Sindh’s case, selling out the Indus River through secret agreements.
The protesters demanded President Asif Ali Zardari immediately withdraw the IRSA Act amendment and cancel the approval of six new canals, warning that if these demands were not met, he should resign from the presidency. The demonstration marked a significant moment in Sindh’s ongoing struggle for water rights, environmental justice, and political autonomy.
