HYDERABAD, March 1: The leaders of public opinion have lashed out at the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) for approving the construction of greater Thal canal despite opposition by Sindh and called upon the people of the province to be ready for participating in a democratic struggle against this decision.

The chief of Awami Tehrik, Mr Rasool Bux Palejo, has condemned the federal government for granting approval to the canal project terming it a death warrant for the people of Sindh.

In a statement here on Friday, he said that this decision had jolted the very foundation of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s Pakistan.

Palejo called upon writers, intellectuals and patriotic people including women and children to rise against this decision and launch a peaceful, democratic struggle against the construction of the controversial canal.

He also appealed to the United Nations’ human rights commission and international community to raise voice against the economic assassination of the growers of Sindh.

In his statement, the president of Pakistan Oppressed Nations’ Movement’s Sindh chapter and chief of Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, Dr Qadir Magsi sarcastically said that the name of Pakistan should be changed into Punjabistan.

He said by granting approval for the construction of the disputed canal, the powers that be had violated legal norms and the constitution and the claim of the rulers about good governance had been exposed.

He said that it appeared that the rulers were least interested in protecting the interests of Sindh.

Mr Magsi said that Sindh had been left with no options but to launch a relentless struggle for its survival.

The Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) has said that the approval for the construction of greater Thal canal was the continuation of the oppressive measures perpetrated against Sindh over the years.

The general secretary of the party, Moula Bukhsh Khaskheli, Imdad Kazi and Sadiq Jatoi appealed to the nationalist parties and the friends of Sindh to launch a joint struggle against the anti- Sindh project.

The Pakistan People’s Party leaders, Abdus Salam Thaheem, Altaf Hussain Rind and Fida Hussain Dero have also criticized the approval of the Thal canal project by Ecnec.

In a joint statement, they also condemned the Sindh ministers for irrigation and planning and development on their failure to send the representatives of the province to attend the meeting of the Central Development Working Party which had earlier granted approval for the controversial project.

They reminded the federal government that the issue of water distribution was highly sensitive which had created disharmony between Sindh and Punjab adding that the Thal canal project would further aggravate the situation.

The Sindhi Qaumi Saath leader Hafeez Qureshi has criticized the role of the Sindh governor and the provincial cabinet for playing no role in opposing the construction of the controversial canal. He called for social boycott of the Sindh Irrigation Minister Syed Ali Mir Shah.