• Two-day Sindh Literature Festival opens at Beach Luxury Hotel
• 27th Amendment and canals construction on Indus dominate discussions

KARACHI: The controversial 27th Amendment and proposed construction of canals on the Indus River dominated discussions on the first day of the Eight edition of the Sindh Literature Festival (SLF), which began here at a local hotel on Saturday.

Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Husain Shah inaugurated the two-day SLF at the lawn of the Beach Luxury Hotel. He said Sindh was a land of love and tolerance.

He admitted that Karachi needed better transport service and the Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon was working on it as the number of buses was being increased.

He said it was a vision of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to develop infrastructure not only in Karachi, but also all over Sindh.

PPP MNA and former television host Mahtab Akbar Rashdi taking part in discussion titled ‘Challenges of the modern era and responsibilities of intellectuals” moderated by academic Dr Riaz Shaikh lamented that freedom of expression was being undermined everywhere, including the US, as the ruling elite did not have the courage to listen to the truth. However courageous people have always spoken the truth and showed the way to the public, she added.

Politicians are making such legislation on the pretext of ‘allowing the system to function’ which may cause problems for coming generations, she added.

She said that everyone knew under what “compulsions” the legislation was being carried out.

However, Ms Rashdi said times would not stop and the world had seen the worst situation as even in the Roman Empire. The people came out on roads as ‘risk’ had to be taken, she added.

She said despite restrictions, the people particularly the youth were showing ‘defiance’ though their programmes on YouTube.

She regretted that “immunity” was being sought for everything though situation could change within minutes.

Regarding “way forward”, Ms Rashdi said youths and women were going to change things.

Women on social media, NGOs and universities are coming forward while the youth are aware of every today. She wondered as to how they would remain silent. Despite the ‘adverse’ situation, the youths are moving and ultimately they will take us to the ‘positive side’, she added.

Lawyer Shahab Osto in an apparent reference to the 27th Amendment said that the present apex judiciary had given every decision in favour of the ruling elite, despite this, the elite appeared fearful of whatever independence the judiciary enjoyed.

He said for the last over 20 years, the political leadership had made ‘compromises’ for personal, party and parochial interests.

He said the masses had lost all hopes from “change-makers” who had become “irrelevant” but Imran Khan may “inspire” them while being in jail, not as being prime minister. It would be another thing what he would do if he came to power again. He said despite pessimism, ‘leaderless’ resistance existed in the country.

He said there was an ‘alarming situation’ in two provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while the third province, Punjab had become a “police state”. The senior lawyer said he had recently seen hope when people, particularly youths, came out on roads themselves against the controversial canal project in Sindh.

Senior journalist and writer Dr Naazir Mahmood opined that intellectuals are one who challenge ‘centres of power’ and who raise their voice against violation of democratic and human rights while being enlightened and conscious.

He said there was ‘confusion and ambiguity’ among the youths, which has to be removed.

Dr Abid Mir said the youths of Balochistan were facing “different problems”. The Baloch youths are questioning their leadership and their intellectuals regarding their compromises and opportunism, he added.

Water issues

Earlier taking part in a discussion “The threats facing the land and rivers and our future” being moderated by journalist Afia Salam, development professional Naseer Memon said there was an ‘obsession’ with dams whenever there was drought or floods but “dams are not a solution to the water problem”.

He cited the present case of Tehran, capital of Iran, where five dams had been constructed for provision of water, but there was a ‘severe drought’ for the last three years.

He said the real issue was ‘imbalance’ between the resources and population. The provinces were not making efforts to control population growth as 80pc resources were being distributed on the basis of population through the National Finance Commission while the population’s share in distribution of resources was only 15pc in India as compared to Pakistan.

He said there was no “surplus” water in the country as everywhere Irsa issued warning of water shortage.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2025