HYDERABAD: On Saturday, the Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party (STPP) organized a sit-in protest at the Hatri Bypass in Hyderabad, voicing opposition to the proposed canal project on the Indus River.
The protest, led by STPP Chairman Dr. Qadir Magsi, lasted for over five hours and saw the participation of a large crowd, including party supporters, local residents, women, and children. The demonstration effectively blocked traffic on the National Highway, creating long queues of vehicles in both directions.
Speaking to the protesters, Dr. Magsi emphasized that the Indus River is the lifeblood of Sindh, warning that diverting its waters would lead to the destruction of the region and affect the livelihoods of 60 million people. He stated that the people of Sindh would not tolerate any attempts to build canals or dams on the river.
Dr. Magsi reminded the crowd of past struggles, recalling the widespread opposition to the Kalabagh Dam project, which was first proposed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after the nuclear tests. Following strong protests across Sindh, Sharif was forced to abandon the project. Similarly, General Pervez Musharraf’s attempts to implement a similar scheme were also met with fierce resistance from the people of Sindh.
The STPP leader called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to heed the lessons of history and warned that decisions against the interests of Sindh would not be tolerated. He also criticized the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), accusing them of repeatedly making anti-Sindh decisions. He reminded PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari that his power came from the votes of the Sindh people and that any betrayal would not go unpunished.
Dr. Magsi also expressed concern over the insufficient water being released to the Indus delta, a violation of existing agreements, and lamented the severe impact on Sindh’s agriculture due to water shortages. He warned that constructing more canals would further devastate the province.
The STPP leader vowed that the protest movement would continue until the canal project was canceled. He announced a major rally planned for November 24 outside the Governor House in Karachi, where millions would gather to demand that the federal government halt its alleged conspiracies against Sindh.
