HYDERABAD: A large number of activists from the Awami Tehreek (AT) and its women’s wing, Sindhiyani Tehreek (ST), on Sunday organised a march against the 27th Amendment, corporate farming, new canals on the Indus River, so-called honour killings and the exploitation of the province’s resources.

The march started from Jail Road and concluded at the local press club, where it was addressed by party leaders. It was led by AT president Vasand Thari, Noor Ahmed Katiar, Lal Jarwar, Dr. Rasool Bux Khaskheli, Abdul Qadir Ranto, and others. Noted writer Jami Chandio, Ghaffar Narejo, general secretary of Mirpurkhas Bar Association Israr Chang, and general secretary of High Court Bar Association, Hyderabad, among others, also joined the march.

Vasand Thari said that the 27th Amendment was “worse than the post-hybrid system and an attack on democracy.”

He added that the rulers had distorted the Constitution, suspended fundamental rights, and subjugated the judiciary through the 27th Amendment, enabling them to plunder Sindh’s mineral and other resources unchecked.

Mr Thari further said that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) was created to sell resources, lands, and minerals.

He condemned corporate farming as a conspiracy to occupy the lands of the oppressed, saying that millions of acres were being handed over to companies.

He vowed to resist any attempts to divide Sindh and said that projects like the Kalabagh Dam, Bhasha Dam, and six canals were part of a conspiracy to forcibly seize Sindh’s water.

Sindhiyani Tehreek President Umra Samoon criticised the SIFC and said it was formed with the support of the PPP.

“The judiciary, paralysed after the 26th Amendment, was transformed into a government court through the 27th Amendment,” she said.

The rally adopted resolutions stating that the Constitution had been distorted, fundamental rights suspended, and courts crippled, resulting in a constitutional dictatorship.

The resolutions condemned the lifetime immunity granted to the president and Field Marshal under the 27th Amendment, and stated that it “places them above the state, Islamic law and the 250 million citizens, effectively enforcing a monarchy”.

They demanded that the Constitution’s foundation be based on the Pakistan Resolution of 1940.

The resolutions also condemned the attack on a lawyers’ convention in Sukkur at the “behest of the Sindh government.” It termed the attack an act of terrorism due to the lawyers’ opposition to the 26th and 27th Amendments.

The resolutions further emphasised that the Indus River is Sindh’s civilisational identity and lifeline.

They demanded that all dam and canal projects on the Indus, including Kalabagh and Bhasha dams and six canals, be stopped.

They called for the revocation of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and the amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act, withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill 2025, and for powers to remain with the provinces.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2025