KARACHI, Sept 11: Leaders representing different shades of opinion, intellectuals, writers and lawyers at a conference here on Thursday stressed the need for a joint struggle against construction of Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal canal to save the province from devastation.

They described these water projects as disastrous for Sindh, and said if these projects are implemented, they would turn the whole province into a barren land.

Tracing the water history of Sindh, the speakers said the Punjab had always attempted to deprive Sindh of its due share of water.

The speakers regretted that despite a strong opposition by the people of the three provinces, the federal government was bent upon implementing the controversial projects.

They opined that it was now evident that these projects were being implemented for the benefit of a few generals and colonisation of Sindh.

The speakers called upon all the people to resist any “colonization move” vide controlling the water resources of the province.

Held at the PMA House, the conference, organized by the Jeay Sindh Mahaz, was presided over by its chairman Abdul Khalique Junejo.

It was addressed by Abdul Haleem Pirzada, Dr Habibur Rehman Soomro, Manzoor Ahmed Sheikh, (retd) Justice Rashid Rizvi, Fahimeeda Riaz, Dr Qamar Shehbaz, Ghulam Nabi Mughal, Yusuf Mustikhan, Baseer Naveed, Advocate Noorudin Sarki and Sabihuddin Ghousi, President, Karachi Press Club.

The speakers were of the view that the issue needed a broader consensus among the people of all the province, so there should be a joint struggle against the construction of the disastrous projects.

A resolution adopted at the conference says that the water issue is the question of life and death for Sindh and given the obdurate attitude of the rulers, it has acquired a peculiar position symbolising the over-all struggle of Sindhi people for the realisation of their national rights.

The resolution called upon the people of Sindh to take their destiny in their own hands and draw a line between friends and foes and ensure a complete social boycott of today’s Chanesars, Khuhros and Rashidis.

It says some Sindhi hypocrites out of political expediency and lust for power are supporting these anti-Sindh projects, but it be known that anyone going this way will put him or herself in the line of traitors.

It asked the people of Sindh to resist this unjust and aggressive act with all available legal, political, social and moral means.

The meeting regretted that “the state of Pakistan, though federation in name, is being run in the worst centralised form where one province, has dominance over others and all the state institutions are subservient to its interests.