UMERKOT/MIRPUR-KHAS: Participants of the ‘Bedari March’, which had started from Hyderabad a day ago to record protest against construction of six canals on Indus River and allotment of Sindh’s fertile lands to outsiders, arrived in Umerkot on Sunday after making an overnight stopover at Mirpurkhas.

The marchers, including activists of nationalist parties, Grand Democratic Alliance and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, were welcomed at every step as they walked to local press club.

The protesters’ leaders strongly demanded an immediate halt to the construction of canals on the Indus and transfer of Sindh’s lands to private companies for corporate farming.

Syed Zain Shah, president of the Sindh United Party and convener of the Save Indus River Movement, reiterated: “The Indus is lifeline of millions of Sindhis. The canals project and auctioning of Thar’s lands are aimed at exploiting the province’s resources but we will not allow it at any cost.”

Dr Safdar Abbasi, general secretary of GDA, said: “The Indus is our lifeline. Any attempt to cut it off will be resisted vehemently. We reject outright this plundering of Sindh’s resources.”

Dr Masroor Siyal, PTI Sindh president, said: “PPP and PML-N have formulated destructive policies and together, we can stop them from looting Sindh’s resources.”

Riaz Chandio, chairman of Jeay Sindh Mahaz, accused PPP government of betraying Sindh for power. “Over the past 17 years, PPP has prioritised corruption over public welfare, sold off Sindh’s resources and violated its integrity.”

Former PTI MNA Lal Malhi said: “The illegal construction of canals is a direct attack on Sindh’s survival. We will not allow the sale of Sindh’s lands at any cost. Large turnout at today’s protest is a proof that people of Sindh are united in rejecting the canals.”

Mazhar Rahujo, leader of Qaumi Awami Tehreek, said: “The PPP government has approved the canals for the sake of power, which is unacceptable to Sindh people.”

Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi, Pakistan Muslim Leag­­ue-Functional Sind­h’s president, said: “The PPP should prove its loyalty to Sindh by getting resolutions passed in Sindh Assembly and National Assembly against this injustice. If the party fails, its leaders should be labeled as traitors.”

Earlier on Saturday, when the march arrived in Mirpurkhas late in the evening after starting from Hyderabad, the participants held a sit-in outside local press club.

The protesters’ leaders Zain Shah, Dr Abbasi, Mr Palijo and others said that the canals project was anti-Pakistan and anti-Sindh, which was aimed at depriving Sindh of its share in water.

They termed the canals project the second big attack on Sindh after the Kalabagh Dam plan, which was foiled by people’s unity. They would once again force shelving of this plan with stiff resistance, they said.

They said that President Asif Ali Zardari had given a go-ahead to the construction of the canals and also allocated budget for the project. Sea would devour more land after the construction of canals and thousands of people would be deprived of their homes, they warned.

They demanded the government shelve the project to save Sindh’s lands from complete destruction.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2025