HYDERABAD, June 29: The Seraikistan Qaumi Movement (SQM) on Saturday supported the struggle of the Anti-Thal Canal Action Committee against the construction of the greater Thal canal.

Speaking at a press conference at the Hyderabad Press Club, the chief of the SQM, Hameed Asghar Shaheen, along with the chairman, Sindh Taraqqi Passand Party, Dr Qadir Magsi, stressed the need for taking the movement to the Seraiki belt of Punjab.

They, however, made it clear that the two parties would certainly launch a struggle in the Seraiki belt, and added that the Thal canal project would have to be rejected to save the federation.

Hameed Asghar Shaheen claimed that before the construction of the barrages, 175 MAF water was available in the Indus River but due to different water schemes launched by the rulers, Sindhi and Seraiki people were facing an acute shortage of water.

He criticized the utterances of the Punjab irrigation minister, Aamir Sultan Cheema, who has branded Sindhis as “the agents of the Hindu lobby,” and added that the entire administration was trying to protect Mr Cheema.

He said that it was not only the question of the Thal canal as seven other small and big dams were also in the pipeline.

HESCO: Power consumers of Doctors’ Colony, Pathan Colony, Millat-i-Islamia Colony and Mirs Tombs held a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Sunday against Hesco.

They raised slogans against the SDO of Sarfaraz sub-division, Sohail Shaikh, and line superintendent Sanaullah for misbehaving with consumers.

Speaking on the occasion, Ghulam Rasool Memon, Muneer Ahmad Channa, Shaukat and others said electricity consumers were being issued detection bills.

They alleged that the SDO and the line superintendent were involved in corrupt practices.

Opinion

Editorial

Reserved seats
Updated 15 May, 2024

Reserved seats

The ECP's decisions and actions clearly need to be reviewed in light of the country’s laws.
Secretive state
15 May, 2024

Secretive state

THERE is a fresh push by the state to stamp out all criticism by using the alibi of protecting national interests....
Plague of rape
15 May, 2024

Plague of rape

FLAWED narratives about women — from being weak and vulnerable to provocative and culpable — have led to...
Privatisation divide
Updated 14 May, 2024

Privatisation divide

How this disagreement within the government will sit with the IMF is anybody’s guess.
AJK protests
14 May, 2024

AJK protests

SINCE last week, Azad Jammu & Kashmir has been roiled by protests, fuelled principally by a disconnect between...
Guns and guards
14 May, 2024

Guns and guards

THERE are some flawed aspects to our society that we must start to fix at the grassroots level. One of these is the...