• PPP, PML-N, Muttahida are among several parties which attended MPC hosted by JUI-F
• Joint declaration also dismisses proposal to amend Irsa Act

KARACHI: In a rare consensus, both the ruling and opposition parties in Sindh have rejected the proposal to dig additional six canals from the Indus River and warned that any such move from the Centre would meet strong resistance from the people of the province.

The joint declaration of the political stakeholders emerged at a multi-party conference (MPC) organised by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) at a local hotel here on Saturday.

Leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP), Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi), Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP), Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) and other parties participated in the conference.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Nisar Khuhro, Jam Khan Shoro and Waqar Mehdi represented the PPP. Provincial president of PML-N Bashir Memon, Abdul Haseeb of MQM-P, Younus Buneri of Awami National Party, Rashid Mehmood Soomro of JUI-F and many other leaders spoke at the MPC.

A joint declaration issued at the conclusion of the conference demanded to halt amendments to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Act as well as the construction of new canals on the Indus River, rejecting the proposed projects Thar Canal, Rainee Canal, Cholistan Canal, Greater Thar Canal, Kachhi Canal, and Chashma Right Bank Canal.

The declaration claimed that millions of acres of fertile land in Sindh would turn barren if new canals were built. “The projects will financially benefit a few companies while rendering millions of farmers and over 20 million associated people unemployed,” it said.

“These actions are against the Constitution of Pakistan and the human rights charter. We want to see a stable Pakistan, but the country’s stability is tied to the well-being of its provinces. Strengthening a few companies while weakening provinces will not strengthen the nation,” the declaration said.

The conference members agreed that the farmers in Sindh were not receiving water as per the 1991 Water Accord. The water meant to be available in early April is delayed by two and a half months, causing billions of rupees in losses to farmers, they said.

“Several districts, including Karachi, face severe shortages of clean drinking water. Despite reservations, the people of Sindh accepted the 1991 accord but reject any additional amendments. The accord allocated 10 MAF (million acre-feet) of water downstream of Kotri for the sea, and the conference demands its implementation,” the declaration said.

During the conference, the JUI-F leaders apprised the participants that it had conducted a Sharia-based research and prepared a fatwa against the new canal projects. This point was also made part of the joint declaration.

“The fatwa will be shared with scholars from all schools of thought for consensus before issuance. The parties with representation at any parliamentary level have agreed to pass condemnation resolutions in their respective houses. If the Irsa Act amendments and the six canal projects are not stopped, a strong democratic protest movement will be launched,” it said.

Murad for constitutional protection to 1991 water accord

Separately, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has called for constitutional protection to the 1991 Water Accord, emphasising that the provincial government would never compromise on Sindh’s water share.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) demands constitutional protection for the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991, despite its shortcomings, to ensure its implementation in true letter and spirit,” he said while replying to a question during a media talk at World Children’s Day celebrations at Nishan-i-Pakistan.

He clearly said that the PPP would never compromise on Sindh’s water rights. He reiterated the party’s long-standing opposition to the Kalabagh Dam, a position that dates back to the time of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

He reiterated the party’s commitment to ensuring equitable water distribution and protecting the interests of the province.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2024