KARACHI, March 15: PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmad Khuhro has said the oppressed people of the province have once again saved the federation by staging protest against the Greater Thal Canal project.
“All patriot parties, including the PPP, salute the people and assure them that like its role against the dictatorships of Ayub and Zia the PPP will not leg behind in its struggle against the present dictatorship.”
Mr Khuhro, who was arrested with other party leaders on Thursday while leading a protest rally against Thal Canal project at Ghakkar Phatak, was speaking to party workers and leaders at his residence after his release on Friday.
He said throughout the province over 2500 party workers and office- bearers were arrested and maltreated by the police who used indiscriminate tear gas shells and resorted to brutal baton charge.
“This maltreatment of the participants of a rally demanding water has refreshed the wounds inflicted during the 11-year long dictatorship of Gen Zia,” he remarked.
Mr Khuhro pointed out that people of Sindh had been exercising their democratic and constitutional rights to protest against the project and no one could deprive them of their rights.
He condemned the use of tear gas and brutal baton charge on the demonstrators and said after the “unconstitutional” dismissal of PPP government, the people of Sindh had become a target of state-sponsored terrorism because of their commitment to the federation and the national leader, Benazir Bhutto.
Mr Khuhro said the Indus River and canals had already been presenting a desert’s look and if the Thal Canal project was executed the people of Sindh would be deprived of even drinking water.
He recalled that one year back, on May 1, attempts had been made to stop workers of Sindh from exercising their international right by imposing an undeclared curfew and now on March 14 an attempt was made to foil a peaceful protest by blocking the National Highway and mass arrests of workers, including women.
