Awami Tehreek and Sindhiyani Tehreek Rises in Relentless Protest Against Corporate Farming and Anti-People Policies, Demanding Justice for Indigenous Farmers and River Water
Awami Tehreek and Sindhiyani Tehreek Rises in Relentless Protest Against Corporate Farming and Anti-People Policies, Demanding Justice for Indigenous Farmers and River Water
Sukkur | April 26: Hundreds of passionate workers, alongside the central leadership of Awami Tehreek and Sindhiyani Tehreek, are staging a vibrant, ongoing protest in Sukkur — with representatives from two districts of Sindh participating daily — in support of the lawyers’ movement and to reaffirm their unwavering commitment to Sindh.
On the ninth consecutive day, Sindhiyani Tehreek members filled the air with powerful slogans, fiercely rejecting the government’s anti-people policies and denouncing imbalanced platforms like the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). The rally, charged with energy, became a living testament to Sindh’s spirit of resistance.
Addressing the grand sit-in, Advocate Wasand Thari, Central President of Awami Tehreek, demanded the immediate cancellation of all land-leasing agreements signed under the controversial corporate farming projects. He declared these agreements the root cause behind the construction of new canals and the illegal transfer of ancestral farmland.
“This project robs indigenous farmers of their centuries-old rights, handing over fertile lands to military-run corporations under the deceptive banner of development. It is a blatant violation of the Constitution and an economic fraud against Sindh’s farming communities,” Thari asserted.
Drawing from history, he reminded the gathering that the struggle for land rights is not new. “In 1970, Awami Tehreek launched the ‘Neelam Band Karyu Tahreek’ (Stop Land Auction Movement) against similar injustices, during which leaders like Rasool Bux Palijo and Fazil Rahu were imprisoned. Today, history is repeating itself — with the military once again backing an anti-people government from behind the scenes.”
Thari sharply criticized the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), accusing it of attempting to mislead the public through hollow celebrations. “People are no longer deceived. They know that only Zardari acted regarding the canals project, and it was never approved by the CCI or ECNEC. With no legitimate approval beyond the President’s office, Bilawal Bhutto should stop making noise and simply cancel the notification. There’s no need to drag it to the CCI now — Shahbaz and Bilawal avoided that path because the project disproportionately benefits Punjabis, who dominate the CCI,” he charged.
Thari vehemently rejected state-led programs like the Green Pakistan Initiative and bodies like the SIFC, labeling them anti-people and detrimental to Pakistan’s agricultural and democratic future.
He urged the government to empower indigenous farmers instead of paving the way for corporate land grabs. “True prosperity lies in strengthening the hands that have tilled this land for generations — by providing them with modern tools, technology, and training,” he emphasized.
The Awami Tehreek president also condemned mainstream political parties, particularly the PPP and PML, for siding with elite interests and appeasing the military while ignoring the plight of the common people. “Their silence signals complicity. We will continue our struggle until justice is restored and the people’s lands are rightfully returned,” he vowed.
With its rhythmic slogans and fearless spirit, the momentum of this protest signals that the people of Sindh are prepared for a long, determined, and unwavering struggle for justice and dignity.
