KARACHI: A day after the Council of Common Interests (CCI) shelved the controversial canals project pending consensus among provinces, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party staged an impressive show to celebrate what it called its victory by welcoming Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah upon his return from Islamabad.

Carrying tri-coloured PPP flags, a large number of party workers reached Karachi airport’s old terminal in the form of rallies to receive CM Shah.

The jubilant workers of PPP’s city chapter were chanting slogans in favour of party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and other leaders.

The CM emerged from the airport in his SUV and then stood through the vehicle’s sunroof to greet cheering workers. He shook hands with workers and waved a PPP flag before making a speech.

CM Murad praises President Zardari for expediting CCI meeting

Senior leaders Waqar Mehdi, ministers Saeed Ghani, Sharjeel Memon and others were also present.

Terming shelving of the controversial Cholistan canal project ‘a landmark victory for Sindh and a triumph of constitutional justice’, the CM explained that the project, approved during the caretaker government, was annulled through a democratic and legal process.

He credited the move to the efforts of President Asif Ali Zardari, the federal and provincial governments, and the collective will of the people of Sindh.

He praised party leadership, particularly Mr Bhutto Zardari, for advocating Sindh’s case before the CCI and securing a favourable decision.

The CCI meeting formally rejected the canal project, with consensus among the provinces that no new projects would proceed without interprovincial agreement, reaffirming commitment to the 1991 Water Accord, he said.

The chief minister condemned the spread of misinformation about the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) certification and expressed gratitude to all CCI members and the prime minister for their support.

He emphasised that the cancellation was achieved through constitutional means, with all four provinces aligning on justice and fairness.

He said that the water availability certificate, issued on Jan 17, 2024 by the Irsa during the caretaker set-up, and the Ecnec’s conditional approval granted on Feb 7, 2024, had been annulled.

He said that the Sindh government had constitutionally challenged the Irsa certification upon assuming office in June 2024.

Highlighting the extensive public mobilisation led by Mr Bhutto-Zardari, the CM said that it was his leadership that “unprecedented crowds” participated in major rallies held in Garhi Khuda Bux, Hyderabad, and Sukkur.

During these events, the PPP chairman clearly articulated opposition to the canal project, building momentum towards its cancellation, he added.

The CM recalled that the PPP chairman met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on April 24, asking him to immediately scrap the project. “

He criticised political opponents for misleading the public regarding signatures on project’s approval. He made it clear that such decisions were made at the forums like Ecnec and CCI, and not individually signed by the president or prime minister.

He said that the CCI meeting was to be held on May 2 but it was expedited to April 28, following intervention by President Zardari and requests from Sindh’s leadership.

Recounting his conversation with President Zardari about the urgency of the matter, he said the president’s intervention helped accelerate the CCI meeting date, reinforcing PPPs commitment to safeguarding provincial rights.

He stressed that PPP leadership, especially Mr Bhutto-Zardari, had instructed the Sindh government to either achieve justice in the CCI or disengage from the process.

He lauded the people of Sindh for their unwavering support since 1970, noting their empowerment allowed the party to successfully advocate for their rights at the federal forum.

While appreciating the contributions of activists and lawyers, he voiced disapproval of protest tactics that inconvenienced the public.

He reiterated that the canal projects cancellation was not just a victory for Sindh but for the entire nation.

Addressing the ongoing lawyers’ sit-in at Babarloi, the CM urged the protesters to honour their commitment to end their demonstration following the issuance of the official notification cancelling the project.

Vowing to defend Pakistan against any hostile designs from India, CM Shah declared that any malicious intentions would be effectively countered.

Later, the CM, along with Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, called on the PPP chairman and briefed him about the CCI meeting.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2025