HYDERABAD: The Awami Tehreek has expressed concern over the water situation in Sindh, alleging that an artificial water shortage has been created in the province.

They claimed that water flows in the Indus River had been drastically reduced and accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of compromising Sindh’s rights over its water resources.

They expressed these views at a meeting of the committee overseeing preparations for the eighth death anniversary of veteran Sindhi nationalist leader and rights activist Rasool Bux Palijo was held at Palijo House in Qasimabad on Saturday under the chairmanship of AT President Advocate Vasand Thari.

According to the speakers, Sindh was receiving substantially less water than its allocated share under the Sindh-Punjab water arrangements.

They alleged that the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) was withholding Sindh’s share of water and diverting it to Punjab, aggravating the province’s water crisis.

The meeting reviewed in detail arrangements for the public gathering planned in connection with Palijo’s anniversary.

Addressing participants, Mr Thari said that the PPP government was seeking to protect those responsible for the killing of Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar. He claimed that while presenting itself as a pro-democracy and secular political force, the PPP was in fact encouraging authoritarianism and religious extremism.

He further said that incidents of violence involving extremist groups in Larkana and Jhuddo were part of a broader attempt to promote extremism in Sindh.

Mr Thari said that Rasool Bux Palijo had dedicated his life to protecting the Indus River and raising public awareness about issues affecting Sindh.

He added that the struggle initiated by Mr Palijo for the protection of the river and the rights of the people of Sindh would continue under the banner of his political thought and legacy.

The meeting was attended by AT leaders Noor Ahmed Katiar, Lal Jarwar, Abdul Qadir Ranto, Dr Rasool Bux Khaskheli, Sindhyani Tehreek President Umra Samoon, Hyderabad district president Sarmad Rajpar and others.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2026