KARACHI: Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Saturday said that a historic rally against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River and terrorism would be held in Hyderabad on April 18 to gather public support.

Addressing a press conference, he said that the Pakistan Peoples Party would never make any compromise on the canals issue, alleging that the Punjab government’s agenda was to create a rift between the party and the federation.

Mr Memon, who also holds the portfolios of information and transport, said that the PPP was engaging in mature politics and remained committed to protecting the public interest.

Taking exception to statements of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders, including Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari, he said that no sane person could make a statement like his counterpart in Punjab.

“If the Punjab information minister has any problem with the PPP, then she should sit down and resolve it and not make false statements,” he said.

The senior minister said that the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in his speech at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto had highlighted the country’s key issues, especially the pressing matter of canal construction. “He [PPP chairman] made it clear that the construction of canals would not be allowed under any circumstance,” he said.

Mr Memon also criticised the Punjab government’s projects pointing out its failure to clarify the source of water for the proposed canals.

He announced that a historic rally against the construction of canals and terrorism in Hyderabad on April 18 was aimed at mobilising public support.

The minister also criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government as well, urging it to focus on public order.

He accused Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf of previously promoting friendly ties with the Taliban, which contributed to insecurity in the region.

He said that the PPP would go to any length to safeguard the rights of the province, making it clear that the public struggle would continue until the withdrawal of the controversial canal project.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2025