KARACHI, Feb 27: A major protest demonstration was held outside Karachi Press Club on Thursday against the projects of Kalabagh dam, Greater Thal Canal and possible US attack on Iraq.
Thousands of men, women and children participated in the protest demonstration and vowed to continue their struggle against injustices being done to the people of Sindh.
The demonstration and rally was organized by the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party (STP) to denounce the construction of Greater Thal Canal, Kalabagh dam, menace of unemployment and shortage of water in Sindh, besides slamming the aggressive stance of the US against Iraq and other countries of the world.
Waving banners and placards inscribed with demands for water, employment, protesters who had travelled from rural areas of the province to participate in the rally and demonstration, chanted slogans against the water shortage, Greater Thal Canal project and Kalabagh dam and vowed to resist al such “anti- Sindh” projects.
Speaking at the demonstration, the president of the STP, Dr Qadir Magsi, urged the people of Karachi and other provinces to support them in the struggle for Sindh’s rights.
He said entire Sindh was facing a acute shortage of water and lands were being rendered barren for want of water and, instead of giving due share of water to Sindh, projects such as Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal Canal were being proposed to cultivate barren lands in Punjab.
Criticizing the rulers for their misdeeds, he said nature was not involved in the shortage of water and creating drought-like condition in Sindh as hilltops were covered with snow and there had been rains in the country. Under a well-planned conspiracy, the due share of water was not being released to Sindh, he alleged.
STP leaders Ghulam Haider, Gulzar Soomro, Sahar Rizvi, Qadir Chana, Dr Abdul Hameed Memon, Maulana Azizullah Bohio and Qamar Shahbaz also spoke and criticized the US for its aggression against the Muslim world and sought the people’s support in their struggle.
Earlier, protesters gathered at Regal Chowk, Saddar, and marched towards the KPC and chanted slogans against unemployment, shortage of water, greater Thal Canal and Kalabagh dam. After the demonstration, the protesters dispersed peacefully. — PPI
